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PROCEEDINGS 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEENTH 


ANXIVERSARY    OF    THE 


HENNIKER,  N.  H., 


SATURDAY,  JUNE  7,  1884. 


RRISTOL,  N.  H.  : 

PRINTED    BY   R.    W.    Mi;S0l;')VE. 

1884. 


,  V 


PROCEEDINGS 


1769 


OP  THE 


1884 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEENTH 


ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 


COt(Gi[EG/TIONjL   CHURCH 


HENNIKER,  N.  H., 


SATURDAY,  JUNE  7, 1884, 


COMMENCING   AT   NINE   A.    M.,    AND    HOLDING   OVER  THE    SABBATH. 


PRINTED    BY    VOTE  OF  THE  CHURCH  ;    REV.  J.  H.  HOFFMAN,  PASTOR. 


BRISTOL,  N.  II.: 

PRINTED    BY    R.    W.    MUSGROVE. 

1884. 


F 

LETTER  OF  INVITATION.       H^^^f3 


Henniker,  N.  J7.,  April,  1884. 


Dear. 


The  ^^ Church  of  Christ"  of  Henniker,  of  the  Calvinistic 
Congregational  order,  sends  hearty  greeting,  and  hopes  to  wel- 
come and  entertain  you  at  the  one  hundred  and  fifteenth 
(lloth)  Anniversary  of  its  organization,  on  Saturday  and 
Sunday,  June  1th  and  8th,  1884. 

Appropriate  Exercises  by  former  and  present  members  of 
the  Church  and  Society  will  be  in  order. 

Please  invite,  in  behalf  of  the  committee,  any  member  or 
townsmen  who  once  worshipped  with  us. 

If  you  cannot  be  present,  please  make  a  communication  to 
be  read  at  the  time  mentioned.  Pray  that  the  Divine  Spirit 
shall  take  the  humble  deeds  of  the  Church  and  bless  them  to 
generations  to  come. 


Horace  Childs, 
S.  W.  Carter, 
Levi  S.  Connor, 
S.  Q.  A.  Newton, 
L.  W.  Peabody, 
J.  H.  Hoffman, 

Committee. 


1 CSG743 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  DAY. 

S.  Q.  A.  NEWTON,  President. 

HARRIS  W.  CAMPBELL,  Musical  Director. 

CARRIE  L.  MORSE,  Orgakist. 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES. 


MORNING. 

1.  Organ  Voluntary. 

2.  Anthem. — "Praise  the  Lord." 

3.  Invocation.  Rkv.  E.  H.  House. 

4.  Reading  of  the  Scriptures.         Rev.  Geo.  W.  Savory. 

5.  Prayer.  Rev.  William  Wood. 

6.  Address  of  Welcome.  By  the  Pastor. 

7.  Hymn.— No.  708. 

8.  Letters  from  Absent  Members. 

9.  Poem.  Edna  Dean  Proctor. 

10.  Address. — "The  Church  an  Educator." 

Hon.  J.  W.  Patterson. 

11.  "The  Choirs  and  Choristers  of  the  Chltrch." 

Hon.  Oliver  Pillsbury. 

12.  Anthem.     Benediction.  Rev.  J.  H.  Rowell. 

collation. 


afternoon. 

1.  Anniversary  Hymn.     Written  for  the  day  by 

Rev.  N.  F.  Carter. 

2.  Historic  Address.  Rev.  J.  M.  R.  Eaton. 

(Pastor  of  the  Church  for  seventeen  years.) 

3.  Hymn.— No.  954. 

4.  Reminiscences. 

By  former  pastors  and  past  and  present  members. 

5.  The  Mission  Work  of  the  Church. 

Rev.  William  Wood. 

6.  The  Sabbath-School.    Address  to  the  Children. 

*Rev.  G.  H.  Morss.     (Former  Pastor.) 
(The  two  latter  parts  were  assigned  for  the  Lord's  Day.) 

7.  Anthem.     "Jerusalem — My  Happy  Home." 

8.  Benediction. 

*Rev.  G.  H.  Morse  was  detained  by  an  accident.    Mr.  Nathan  San- 
bom  and  Hon.  J.  W.  Patterson  addressed  the  Sabbath-School. 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 

bt  the  pastor. 

Christian  Sisters  and  Brothers  : — 

The  grateful  acknowledgment  of  your  presence  here  to-day  is 
better  done  than  said,  yet  with  115  years  behind  and  you  be- 
fore me  how  can  I  resist  the  temptation  to  put  our  welcome  in- 
to words. 

By  the  provident  hand  of  our  God,  whose  blessing  has  been 
invoked,  we  gather  to  speak  of  the  deeds  of  the  church  of 
Christ.  We  have  in  our  letter  of  invitation  asked  you  to  '"pray 
that  the  Divine  Spirit  shall  take  the  humble  deeds  of  the  church 
and  bless  them  to  the  generations  to  come."  I  am  the  com- 
missioned welcomer  of  the  day.  Therefore  with  authority  do  I 
speak.  We  are  glad  to  see  you.  A  scene  in  Shakspeare  repre- 
sents Leontes  opening  his  free  arms  and  weeping  his  welcome 
forth.  We  shall  try  to  suppress  our  tears  until  you  have  gone 
except  the  quantity  of  your  attendance  shall  compel  us  to  adopt 
the  83rd  line  of  the  15th  book  of  the  Odyssey,  which  reads 
thus : — 

"Welcome  the  coming  but  speed  the  going  guest." 

In  Byron's  Don  Juan  occurs  this  musical  verse  : — 

"  'Tis  sweet  to  hear  the  watch-dog's  honest  bark. 

Bay  deep  mouthed  welcome  as  we  draw  near  home, 

'Tis  sweet  to  know  there  is  an  eye  will  mark 

Our  coming  and  look  brighter  when  we  come." 

Dear  friends,  you  have  come,  you  knew  full  well  that  we  should 
welcome  you  Jiome  once  more. 

What  does  it  signify?  this  coming  into  our  midst,  this  jubi- 
lee da}'  bedecked  with  sunshine  and  flowers,  resonant  in  praises 
and  bathed  with  prayer?  Does  it  mean  a  kindly  reception,  a 
renewal  of  old  acquaintance  not  forgot,  a  revival  of  the  tender 
and  sacred  memories  of  childhood  ?     Is  it  that  you  may  revisit 


8 

the  rosy  paths  that  lead  to  the  hills  or  wander  by  the  swiftly 
flowing  Contoocook  once  again,  or  that  you  may  wi'th  uncovered 
head  read  the  names  inscribed  upon  marble  and  stone,  the  names 
of  those  who  once  shared  your  joys  and  walked  with  you  hand 
in  hand  to  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord  God,  learned  the  same  les- 
sons, acted  well  their  part  and  have  entered  into  their  rest? 
Yes,  and  more— this,  do  not  let  us  forget  it  is  an  anniversary 
of  the  "Church  of  Christ." 

"Everything  in  Jesus  Christ  astonishes  me,"  said  the  exiled 
Emperor  of  St.  Helena— "the  birth  of  Jesus,  the  story  of  his 
life,  the  profoundness  of  his  doctrine  which  overturn  all  diffi- 
culties, his  empire,  his  progress  through  all  centuries  is  to  me  a 
prodigy."  John  Stewart  Mills  penned  the  following :  "But  as 
Jesus  spake  for  eternity  his  truths  ride  on  the  wings  of  time ; 
as  he  spoke  for  man  they  are  welcome,  beautiful  and  blessing 
wherever  man  is  found  and  so  must  be  till  time  and  man  shafl 
cease."  The  coming  of  Christ,  his  career  and  abiding  presence 
with  his  disciples,  has  made  a  profound  impression  upon  the 
world !  The  record  of  the  church  is  no  mean  one.  The  church 
of  Christ  need  not  be  ashamed  to  hold  a  memorial  over  victo- 
ries achieved  under  Christ,  the  Great  Head  of  the  church. 

Without  Christ  in  whose  name  this  anniversary  is  called  what 
better  ai-e  we  than  Greece  and  Rome  under  Socrates  and  Cicero  ? 
I  quote  from  Dr.  Eliot :  "Jesus  Christ  can  do  without  us  but  we 
cannot  do  without  him."  Very  true,  without  him  right  would 
have  no  sanction,  and  wrong  no  terror,  and  a  pure  life  no  lofty 
aspiration.  My  fellow  mortals,  the  world  is  getting  back  to 
Christ,  back  to  Christianity !  If  we  take  a  wide  survey,  we 
note  that : 

"Thro'  the  ages  one  unceasing  purpose  runs, 

And  the  hearts  of  men  are 
Bettered  with  the  process  of  the  Suns." 

The  direction  is  plain,  Emerson  in  his  last  years  went  back 
to  the  regular  services  of  the  denomination  he  thought  he  had 
outgrown.  An  able  exponent  of  the  Herbert  Spencer  philoso- 
phy at  a  dinner  given  in  New  York  made  two  assertions,  one  as  - 
follows  :  "The  proposition  that  men  ought  to  do  certain  things 
and  ought  to  refrain  from  doing  certain  things,  and  the  reason 


9 

why  some  things  are  wrong  to  do  and  others  are  right  to  do  is 
in  some  mysterious  but  very  real  way  connected  with  the  exist- 
ence and  nature  of  this  divine  power  which  reveals  itself  in  every 
great  and  every  tiny  thing,  without  which  not  a  star  courses  in 
its  nightly  orbit  and  not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground."  My 
dear  friends,  this  "Divine  Power,"  recognized  by  the  philosophy 
of  the  age,  began  115  years  ago,  plus  the  Christian  centuries  of 
the  past,  it  began  to  assert  its  power  by  "signs  and  wonders ;" 
it  began  with  Jesus  of  Nazareth  at  the  world's  metropolis,  where 
the  great  men  were  given  to  vices  so  debasing  that  to  mention 
them  would  be  to  soil  the  paper  from  which  I  read,  moreover 
benevolence  was  unknown,  the  poor  and  the  orphan  received 
neither  justice  nor  mercy.  There  was  not,  in  all  pagandom, 
hospital,  asylum  or  almshouse  ;  the  face  of  things  is  changed. 
How  so?  The  people,  calling  themselves  Christians,  banded  to- 
gether under  covenant  vows  (vows  made  by  Jehova  h  to  the  pa- 
triarchs and  continued  under  Christ) ,  have  accomplished  u  great 
work !  This  work  begins  with  the  individual,  it  reaches  out  in- 
to and  revolutionizes  society.  The  church  of  Christ  holds  vice 
in  check,  raises  the  standard  of  morality  to  a  maximum,  teaches 
the  soundest  business  principles,  builds  schools  and  colleges, 
multiplies  Sabbath-schools,  sends  the  Bible,  the  tract  and  the 
missionary  of  the  Cross  to  the  "remotest  bounds  of  earth.' 
The  trend  of  the  Christian  church  is  upward  toward  the  skies  ! 
Her  step  is  majestic  like  the  sun  and  her  purpose  a  holy  one  ! 
Celebrate  !  Yes,  friends,  it  is  our  right  and  duty  so  to  do.  The 
angels  in  choral  symphony  mark  the  triumphs  of  the  cross,  why 
not  those  rejoice  who  are  made  but  a  "little  lower  than  the  an- 
gles." This  word,  welcome,  must  now  end.  No  festival  of 
earth  can  afford  more  than  a  dim  and  distant  picture  of  another 
gathering  grander  than  terrestrial  jubilees!  When  the  soul, 
saved  by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  shall  stand  in  the  glori- 
fied presence  of  Him  to  whom  we  offer  our  anthems  to-day ! 
We  meet,  welcome  and  part.  Of  this  we  are  sure  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  Lord  God  will  at  last  meet  "around  one 
common  mercy  seat."  To  use  another's  language,  ''Let  the  ex- 
pectation of  this  be  the  inspiration  of  our  life  ;  the  fulfillment  of 
that  trust,  let  it  be  the  glory  of  our  immortality.    Let  every  one 


10 

be  so  alive  in  God's  service  in  the  earth  that  we  may  join  in  the 
worship  of  that  immortal  city,  and  forever,  and  forever  piore, 
our  words  shall  be  but  the  words  of  Him  who  spake  in  the  He- 
brew tongue,"  This  is  the  Lord's  doing ;  it  is  marvellous  in  our 
eyes." 


THE  LORD  IS  ROUND  HIS  OWN. 


I  stood  by  the  Holy  City, 

Without  the  Damascus  Gate, 
While  the  wind  blew  soft  from  the  distant  sea, 

And  the  day  was  wearing  late ; 
And  swept  its  wide  horizon 

With  reverent  lingering  gaze, 
From  the  rolling  uplands  of  the  west 

That  slope  a  hundred  ways, 
To  Olivet's  gray  terraces 

By  Kedron's  bed  that  rise. 
Upon  whose  crest  the  crucified 

Was  lost  to  mortal  eyes ; 
And,  far  beyond,  to  the  tawny  line. 

Where  the  sun  seemed  still  to  fall, — 
So  bright  the  hue  against  the  blue, 

Of  Moab's  mountain  wall. 
And  north  to  the  hills  of  Jienjamin, 

Whose  springs  are  flowing  yet, 
Ramah,  and  sacred  Mizpah, — 

It's  dome  above  them  set ; 
And  the  beautiful  words  of  the  Psalmist 

Had  meaning  before  unknown — 
As  the  mountains  are  round  Jerusalem 

The  Lord  is  round  his  own. 

In  the  fair  Contoocook  valley, 

Is  a  village  as  near  to  God 
As  the  holy  city  of  Palestine 

By  saint  and  pilgrim  trod ; 
A  village  with  hills  encircled. 

And  waters  as  pure  and  cool 
As  those  by  the  angel  troubled 

In  deep  Siloam's  pool ; — 
Crany  hill  on  the  south ;  and  west 

The  heights  to  Monadnock's  marge; 
And  north  the  hills  of  Wai'ner 

And  the  peak  of  lone  Kearsarge ; 
I  can  see  them  still  in  the  summer  light, 

Now  near,  now  faint  and  far, — 
Tlieir  brows  withdrawn  as  they  had  gone 

To  mate  with  the  morning  star ! 
And  I  wonder  yet  if  the  lilies  blow 

In  the  pond  on  Crany  hill? 
And  the  whispering  pines  above  the  stream 

Tower  in  their  beauty  still? 


12 


And  along  the  shore  If  the  river  pinks 

Give  spice  to  the  air  of  June? 
And  the  army  brook  through  the  meadow  runs 

With  its  old  melodious  tune  i 
And  the  robin  sings,  and  the  bobolink, 

In  the  orchard  trees  and  the  clover  ? 
And  the  brier-rose  and  sweet  fern  wave 

By  the  rocks,  the  pasture  over? 
Oh,  I  would  give  the  bloom  and  balm 

Of  every  clime  I  know. 
For  the  breath  of  the  rose,  and  the  fragrant  fern 

Upon  those  slopes  that  grow ! 
And  in  this  pleasant  valley, 

Up  from  the  river  stands, 
The  Church  whose  founders  long  have  dwelt 

Within  the  heavenly  lands ; 
Whose  aisles  have  seen  a  hundred  years, 

The  children  come  and  go. 
Till  those  who  have  passed  to  the  upper  realm 

Thrice  number  those  below. 
The  bell  may  ling  on  Sabbath  morns, 

But  they  will  seek  no  more 
By  the  winding  roads  adown  the  hills 

Its  dear  familiar  door. 
Pastors  and  people,  one  by  one. 

Went  home  to  their  reward. 
Their  graves  are  in  the  church-yard  nigh. 

Their  souls  are  with  the  Lord ; 
But  still  their  fervent  prayers  we  hear 

From  pulpit  and  from  pew, 
And  still  their  hymns  ring  high  and  clear. 

Though  they  are  lost  to  view ! 
Their  memory  to-day  we  bless,; 

And,  looking  fondly  back, 
Pray  that  the  church  so  dear  to  them 

God's  presence  may  not  lack ; 
But  evermore  its  worshipers 

In  life  and  death  may  prove 
His  gracious  care,  his  f  aithfullness, 

His  tender  pitying  love ; 
And  say  with  the  Hebrew  psalmist, 

Where  Zion's  Temple  shone. 
As  the  mountains  are  round  the  valley 
The  Lord  is  round  his  own ! 

Edna  Dean  Pboctob. 
June,  1884. 


THE  CHURCH  AS  AN  EDUCATOR, 


BY  HON.  J.  W.  PATTERSON. 


The  history  of  education  is  indissolubly  interwoven  with  that 
of  the  church.  The  possibility  of  mental  development  logically 
involves  both  the  right  and  the  duty  of  such  development,  but 
neither  is  realized  by  the  unschooled. 

The  responsibilities,  which  the  scriptures  lay  upon  each  hu- 
man soul,  awaken  and  enforce  the  obligation,  and  hence  the 
priestly  orders  have  been  the  ministers  and  promoters  of  educa- 
tion in  every  age. 

In  the  earlier  periods  of  civil  society,  the  entire  intellectual 
development  of  the  people  had  its  source  and  conduct  in  the 
ministers  of  religion,  who  founded  institutions  and  monopolized 
the  entire  compass  of  human  knowledge.  The  functionaries  of 
the  church  mastered  the  limited  circle  of  Ihe  sciences  and  pro- 
fessions, and  became  the  astronomers,  doctors,  lawyers  and 
statesmen  of  their  day. 

But  the  genius  of  Christianity  is  diffusive .  Its  dogmas  are 
of  universal  application,  and  cannot  be  limited  to  a  caste. 
Growth  in  knowledge  and  grace,  which  it  inculcates,  necessi- 
tates meditation  upon  the  profoundest  spiritual  truths  brought 
to  our  contemplation  by  revelation,  and  this  involves  that  men- 
tal action  which  is  the  condition  of  growth.  Inspiration  styled 
the  founder  of  Christianity  a  teacher  and  his  followers 
disciples.  The  designation  was  literal,  and  hence  teaching  be- 
came a  characteristic  and  historic  function  of  the  organized 
converts  to  the  divine  master.  Intelligence  is  essential  to 
spiritual  life  and  the  church  advances  with  the  intellectual  pro- 
gress of  the  race. 

The  Christians  of  the  first  centuries  being  unable  to  main- 
tain schools  of  their  own,  educated  their  children  at  home  or  in 
the  pagan  schools.     This  was  unfortunate  for  the  simplicity 


14 

and  purity  of  their  faith,  and  in  181  a  school  of  the  catechists 
was  established  by  Pantaenus,  in  which  the  Christian  faith  was 
taught.  Similar  schools  were  also  oj)ened  at  Caesarea,  Antioch» 
Edessa  and  in  other  cities,  where  the  Christians  were  in  suffi- 
cient numbers  to  maintain  them.  But  these  schools  were  lim- 
ited in  number,  and  reached  only  a  few  of  the  children.  In  the 
fifth  century,  learning  was  driven  into  monasteries,  where  the 
monks,  in  their  cells,  studied  and  copied  the  priceless  manu- 
scripts of  a  classic  age,  and  conserved  the  forces  which  in  a 
better  day  were  destined  to  regenerate  the  intellectual  life  of 
the  world.  In  the  sixth  and  seventh  centuries,  we  find  paro- 
chial, monastic  and  cathedral  schools  scattered  through  Italy, 
and  a  century  later,  the  emperor  Charlemagne  founded  similar 
seminaries  of  learning  for  the  education  of  the  people  through- 
out his  extended  dominions.  "Let  us  open  schools,"  said  the 
good  monarch,  "to  teach  the  children  to  read ;  let  in  every 
monastery,  in  every  bishropic,  some  one  teach  psalms,  writing, 
arithmetic,  grammar  and  employ  correct  copies  of  holy  books  ; 
for  often  men  seeking  to  pray  to  God,  pray  badly  on  account 
of  the  unfaithfulness  of  copyists." 

At  this  time,  all  the  great  councils  of  the  church  were  active 
in  the  same  direction.  "Let  the  priests  in  villages  and 
towns  hold  schools,"  said  the  synod  of  Orleans,  "in  order  that 
all  the  children  entrusted  to  them  can  receive  the  first  notion  of 
letters."  The  council  of  Chalons  decreed  that  bishops  should 
establish  schools  where  both  literature  and  scripture  should  be 
taught. 

This  is  in  harmony  wiA  the  decrees  of  other  councils  at  that 
period.  The  educational  system  of  P^urope  may  be  said  to  have 
been  at  that  time  in  the  direction  of  the  church. 

In  an  advanced  and  complex  civilization,  in  which  the  social 
and  civil  status  has  been  thoroughly  defined  and  established, 
schools  have  been  founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  state,  or 
other  than  eclesiastical  organizations,  but  even  then  they 
have  required  the  countenance  and  patronage  of  the  religious 
orders.  This  is  true  in  pagan  as  in  Christian  communities. 
In  India  and  Egypt  in  which  ancient  philosophy  and  learning 
found  their  earliest  and  highest  development,  the  schools   were 


15 

directed  and  moulded  exclusively  by  the  priestly  castes.  The 
religious  order  of  the  Magi,  who  were  the  highest  officers  and 
dignitaries  of  state  at  the  courts  of  Media  and  Persia,  had 
the  full  control  of  the  int^lectual  culture  of  those  ancient  em- 
pires. Under  the  theocratic  institutions  of  the  Hebrews,  the 
schools  of  the  prophets,  and,  after  the  return  from  the  captivity, 
the  schools  of  the  synagogue,  in  which  the  national  hi&tory  and 
traditions,  the  writings  of  inspired  prophets  and  poets  and  the 
biblical  ethics  and  philosophy  were  discussed  and  recited, 
were  founded  by  religious  teachers  and  conducted  under  their 
auspices.  They  were  rather  associations  of  scholars  than 
schools,  in  which  the  wise  men  sat  upon  a  raised  platform  and 
the  younger  disciples  upon  the  floor,  like  Paul  at  the  feet  of 
Gamaliel.  It  was  in  one  of  these  schools  that  our  Savior  was 
found  by  his  parents  discussing  with  the  elders  the  great  ques- 
tions of  the  law. 

The  schools  of  Greece,  in  which  pure  intellectual  power  reach- 
ed its  culmination  and  did  its  most  imperishable  work,  seem  to 
have  been  secular  and  political  rather  than  sacerdotal.  But  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  Greek  scholar  lit  his  torch  at 
an  Egyptian  altar  which  was  kept  aflame  by  the  priestly  orders. 

The  intellectual  life  of  Rome  was  a  simple  development  of  the 
Greek  system  under  new  conditions  and  by  a  coarser  and  more 
masculine  race. 

The  political  convulsions  which  followed  the  death  of  the 
great  emperor,  left  only  the  Episcopal  and  conventual  schools 
as  the  fruit  of  his  labors.  Following  hard  upon  the  reign  of 
Charlemagne,  Alfred  the  Great  of  England  invited  to  his 
court  men  of  the  highest  intellectual  eminence,  established' 
schools  in  all  parts  of  his  kingdom,  and  "ordained  that  the  chil- 
dren of  every  free  man  loliose  circumstances  would  allow  it,  should 
acquire  the  arts  of  reading  and  writing,  and  that  those  design- 
ed for  civil  or  ecclesiastical  office,  should  be  instructed  in  the 
Latin  language,"  If  Alfred  did  not  found  the  University  of 
Oxford,  he  certainly  gave  substantial  aid  to  the  monastic  schools 
established  where  it  now  is.  But  the  night  of  the  tenth  century 
settled  upon  Europe  and  the  light  of  learning;  only  lingered  in 
the  cloisters.     The  schools  retreated  to  these  seclusions  of  the 


16 

church  and  awaited  the  renaissance.  Driven  in  upon  them- 
selves, the  monks  turned  to  a  close  and  critical  study  of  the  old 
manuscripts  upon  their  dusty  shelves,  and  the  spirit  of  a  higher 
and  stronger  intellectual  life  began  tb  stir  within  those  sleeply 
cells  and  impel  to  action.  The  result  was  the  founding,  during 
the  twelfth  century,  of  the  great  universities  in  which  students 
passed  beyond  the  trivium  and  quadrivium  into  the  profounder 
philosophy  and  literature  of  the  classic  ages.  But  all  of  these 
institutions  except  the  Italian,  like  those  of  Bologna  and  Saler- 
no, which  were  in  their  origin  professional  schools,  originated 
in  the  monastic  and  cathedral  schools.  It  is  said  that  up  to  the 
thirteenth  century  not  half  a  dozen  lay  teachers  were  employed 
in  all  these  universities.  The  renaissance  had  its  roots  in  the  in- 
stitutions of  the  church,  and  the  influence  of  the  church  may  be 
traced   in  its  marvelous  results. 

It  is  impossible  to  calculate  the  power  which  has  been  exerted 
by  the  great  universities  in  moulding  the  destinies  of  Europe. 
But  they  did  not  reach  the  wants  of  the  laboring  poor.  The 
institutions  erected  by  Charlemagne  in  all  parts  of  his  vast 
dominions,  would  have  done  so,  had  not  his  noble  purpose 
been  defeated  by  the  anarchy  which  followed  his  death.  To 
the  mass  of  the  people  groveling  in  slavery,  degradation  and 
misery  at  the  base  of  society,  the  cloistral  schools  brought  no 
light  and  gave  no  hope. 

At  the  very  midnight  of  popular  ignorance  in  Europe,  science 
was  winning  new  trophies  and  erecting  her  temples  within  all  lands 
reached  by  the  jurisdiction  of  Arabia.  But  the  uplifting  of 
the  working  substratum  of  society  in  the  west,  only  came  with 
the  reformation.  It  was  this  great  religious  awakening,  which 
gave  birth  to  institutions  for  the  intellectual  and  moral  eleva- 
tion of  the  masses  of  mankind. 

In  1528  Luther  and  Melanchthon  prepared  a  curriculum  of 
studies  for  the  common  schools,  which,  by  their  influence,  were 
being  organized  through  Germany.  Zwingle,  Calvin,  and  all  the 
great  reformers  which  followed,  laboring  in  the  spirit  of  their 
master,  supplemented  the  measures  which  had  been  inaugurated 
by  the  imperial  intellect  of  Luther,  for  the  education  of  the 
people.     In  this  way  it  came  about,  that  the  German  schools 


17 

which  sprung  from  the  Reformation,  became  the  germ  and  pat- 
tern of  the  system  which  spread  over  a  large  part  of  Europe, 
and  prevailed  for  three  centuries. 

Thus,  as  we  see,  it  was  the  spirit  and  power  of  the  church 
which  conceived  and  consummated  this  phenomenal  work,  than 
which  there  had  been  nothing  more  promotive  of  human  welfare 
in  the  records  of  any  Christian  state. 

But  even  the  schools,  which  sprang  from  the  Reformation,  did 
not  open  the  portals  of  knowledge  to  all.  The  honor  of  found- 
ing a  system  of  public  instruction  free  to  every  child,  and  main- 
tained at  the  expense  of  the  state,  was  reserved  to  the  Puritans 
of  New  England,  who,  in  the  fatherland,  had  imbibed  the 
political  ethics  of  the  Reformation.  Here  no  hereditary  privi- 
leges or  class  monopolies  prevented  the  realization  of  that 
equality  of  rights  which  was  the  genius  of  their  Christian  creed. 
There  was  a  logical  and  liistoric  connection  between  the  Refor- 
mation and  the  establishment  of  free  institutions  on  these 
shores.  The  equality  of  souls  before  the  law  of  God,  which  is 
a  Scriptural  tenet  of  the  church,  has  inspired  every  movement 
for  the  development  and  freedom  of  the  human  mind. 

Cotton  Mather  assigned  the  low  estate  of  the  schools  of 
learning  in  the  old  country  as  one  of  the  reasons  for  the  emi- 
gration of  the  Puritans,  and  in  a  very  brief  period  after  settle- 
ment, our  pious  ancestors  established  schools  in  all  the  New 
England  colonies,  corresponding  to  those  which  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  thirty  years'  war  in  Germany. 

These  were  not  strictly  free  schools,  but  in  1643  both  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut  took  action  looking  to  the  establish- 
ment of  common  schools  to  be  supported  by  a  general  tax.  It 
was  not  till  1647,  however,  that  an  act  was  passed  by  the  old 
Bay  Colony,  which,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  gave  to  all  the  children  of  a  state  a  system  of  free  public 
schools.  This  was  the  first  and  the  type  of  our  American  sys- 
tem of  common  schools;  and,  if  any  man  doubts  the  influence 
of  the  church  in  this  imperishable  act  of  statesmanship,  let  him 
read  the  following  preamble  to  the  law  : 

"  It  being  one  chiefe  project  of  that  old  deliider,  Satan,  to 
keep  men  from  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  as  in  former 
times,  keeping  them  in  an  uuknowne  tongue,  so  in  these  latter 


18 

times,  by  perswading  them  from  the  use  of  tongues,  so  that  at 
least  the  true  seuce  and  meaning  of  the  originall  might  bee 
clouded  with  false  glosses  of  saint  seeming  deceivers  ;  and  i  hat 
learning  may  not  bee  buriid  in  the  grave  of  our  forefathers  in 
church  and  commonwealth,  the  Lord  assisting  our  indeavors : 
It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  courte  and  authority  thereof,"  etc. 

PVom  that  day  until  this  the  churches  of  America,  and  pre- 
eminently the  ministers  of  religion,  have  given  their  influence 
and  support  to  the  schools  of  learning  in  all  their  grades.  As 
these  two  institutions  were  laid  by  the  fathers  as  a  sub-structure 
to  the  state,  so  they  stand  to-day  a  mutual  support,  giving 
unity  and  durability  to  the  republic. 

In  the  absence  of  definite  records,  it  is  impossible  to  resolve 
the  educational  work  of  any  locality,  and  assign  to  each  agency 
the  proportionate  share  of  influence  which  it  has  given  to  the 
process.  It  would  be  as  easy  to  analyze  a  harvest  and  assign 
to  the  earth,  the  rain,  and  the  sunshine,  the  force  and  the  ele- 
ments which  each  had  contributed  to  the  general  result.  So  I 
am  baffled  in  any  attempt  to  designate,  with  precision,  the  part 
which  the  dear  old  church,  of  which  I  became  a  member  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  played  in  the  educational  affairs  of  Henniker. 
But  for  a  hundred  and  fifteen  years  we  can  trace  its  influ- 
ence, woven  like  golden  threads  into  the  fabric  which  stretches 
through  four  generations  of  our  townsmen.  Take  from  the  web 
this  spiritual  tracery,  and  our  work  would  have  been  as  una- 
vailing as  the  weaving  of  Penelope. 

The  church  was  organized  in  1769,  the  year  of  the  founding 
of  Dartmouth  College.  Two  years  earlier,  there  had  been  a 
private  school  in  town,  and  four  years  later,  my  great-grand- 
mother, Elizabeth  Arbuckle  Patterson,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  as  she  was  born  during  the  voyage  of  her 
parents  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  taught  a  public  school,  and 
was  paid  out  of  the  first  money  raised  for  that  purpose.  Whether 
the  church  exerted  any  direct  influence  in  establishing  a  sys- 
tem of  public  instruction  in  the  town  or  not,  we  cannot  say, 
but  we  learn  from  the  town  history,  that  Rev.  Moses  Sawver 
was  chairman  of  the  first  school  committee,  and  that  the  minis- 
ters and  leading  members  of  the  church  have  been  prominent  in 
the  educational  records  of  the  town  down  to  the  present  time. 


19 

This  is  very  observable  in  tracing  the  fluctuating  but  honora- 
ble history  of  the  "  old  academy."  While  we  find  among  its 
founders,  officers  and  patrons,  the  names  of  excellent  and 
efficient  citizens,  not  membei's  of  the  church,  yet  the  majority 
of  its  earliest  and  most  active  friends  have  been  prominent  in 
promoting  the  religious  welfare  of  the  community.  Some  of 
these  have  contributed  liberally  to  the  education  of  poor 
students,  who,  from  time  to  time,  have  struggled  through  this 
institution,  and  gone  forth  to  the  activities  and  honors  of  the 
world. 

I  deem  it  a  special  felicity  that  I  cannot  recall  one  of  all  who 
have  here  laid  the  foundations  of  their  intellectual  life,  who 
has  dishonored  the  institution  or  the  place  of  his  nativity. 
Col.  Cogswell  has  given  us  the  names  of  twenty-four  college 
graduates  of  Henniker,  but  this  list  is  only  a  fragment  of  the 
long  roll  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  town  who  have  fitted 
in  its  schools  for  an  honorable  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  Many 
have  passed  from  the  stage,  but  we  linger  to  rehearse  the  past. 
The  way  is  long  and  thick  with  graves,  but  to-day  we  will  un- 
sphere  the  garnered  years  and  repeople  the  haunts  of  our  child- 
hood with  the  living  and  the  dead  to  "  memory  dear."  Brilliant 
achievements  and  splendid  successes  have  marked  the  decades 
as  they  have  passed,  but  sad  failures  and  bitter  disappoint- 
ments have  mingled  with  the  triumphs  and  dispelled  the  illu- 
sions of  youth.  The  retrospects  of  life  temper  with  doubts  the 
prophecies  of  the  young.  Something  of  the  repose  and  sad- 
ness of  autumn  succeeds  to  the  spring-tide  vigor  and  assurance 
of  our  school  days.  Never  again  shall  we  see  boys  quite  so 
brave  and  handsome  and  full  of  promise,  or  bright-eyed  girls, 
quite  so  fair  and  spirited  and  full  of  grace,  as  the  school-mates 
of  our  youth.  These  were  the  peerless  beings  of  our  golden 
age,  which  has  passed.  But  the  real  life  of  these  idealized 
friends  of  early  years  was  grander  and  nobler  than  the  dream- 
life,  which  our  fancies  foreshadowed  for  them.  Many  trod 
the  path  of  toil  and  sorrow,  but  their  souls  grew  strong,  and 
they  were  spiritual  victors  in  the  issue  of  the  struggle.  One 
ascended  on  a  strong,  melodious  wing  into  the  realm  of  song, 
and   another  thundered   at   the  gates   of     oppression ;    somt* 


20 

fought  ^or  liberty  in  the  arbitrament  of  blood,  and  others  plead 
for  the  right  in  the  a  ^semblies  of  the  people  ;  some  bore  the 
torch  of  revelation   into   the   night   of   paganism,  and   others 
guided  the  mental  powers  into  the  domain  of  knowledge  ;  some 
accepted  the  responsibilities  and  bore  the  hardships  of   public 
life,  and  others  pushed  into  the  arena  of  business,  or  developed 
their  paternal  estates.     But  all,  in  whatever  field  of  enterprise 
or  labor  they  moved,  bore  themselves  with  a  disciplined  intelli- 
gence, a  courageous  temper,  and  an  honest  purpose.     It  has 
been  my  fortune  to  listen  to  the  famous  orators  of   the  age  in 
this  and  other  lands,  and  I  do  not  recall  one,  who  surpassed  in 
the  gift  of  native  eloquence  the  cherished  friend  of  my  boyhood, 
whom  some  of  you  well  remember  in  the  debates  of  our  village 
club.     Beloved  and  honored  of  all,  he  was  cut  down  by  a  mys- 
terious Providence  in  the  promise  of  early  manhood.     Others 
with  parts,  it  may   be  less  rare  but  not  less  useful,  went  forth 
from  our  schools,  inspired   and   sustained   by  the  truths  which 
successive  generations  have  been  taught  in  this  house  of  God, 
and  have  made  an  imperishable  impress  upon  the  industries, 
institutions   and   peoples,  among  whom   their   lots   have  been 
cast.     Christian  schools  are  the  well-springs  of   our  Christian 
civilization,  and  that  has  transformed  the  world.     The  schools 
awaken  inventive  genius  that  indefinitely  multiplies  the  produc- 
tive power  of  labor,  quickens  the  enterprise  that  is  the  parent 
of  comprehensive  schemes  of  business,  and  creates  aspirations 
for  lofty  achievements  and  a  noble  life.     The  schools  and  the 
churches  of  New  England,  working   together,  have  made  her 
sons  the  conservators  of  states,  and  her  daughters  the  mothers 
of  a  noble  race.     The  venerable  church,  planted   in  this  place 
thirty   years  before  the  close  of  the  last  century,  had  a  stormy 
history  for  a  generation,  but  since  its  separation  from  the  state 
has  been  signally  fortunate  in  the  men  chosen  to  minister  at  its 
altar.     Of  the  living,  known  to  you  all,  I  need  not  speak.    The 
Rev.  Moses  Sawyer  tradition  represents  as  a  man  of  strong 
character,  and  great  dignity  of  manner.     His  successor,  the 
Rev.    Jacob  Scales,  was  the  minister  of  my  childhood  whom  I 
recall  with  great  reverence  and   respect.     He  was  a  man  of 
learning,  and  possessed  a  keen,  incisive  intellect,  that  was  de- 


21: 

ceived  by  no  sophistry,  and  struck  at  sham  and  pretense  with  a 
sarcasm  as  sharp  as  Ithuriel's  spear.  But  he  interested  himself 
in  all  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  abetted  ever^^  good  cause. 
The  spiritual  and  intellectual  welfare  of  the  young  were  very 
near  his  heart,  and  he  co-operated  earnestly  with  other  public- 
spirited,  citizens,  in  establishing  the  Henniker  Academy,  for 
which  I,  and  many  others,  now  widely  scattered,  shall  never 
cease  to  be  grateful. 

He  was  followed  be  the  Rev.  Eden  Foster,  who  possessed  an 
intellect  as  rich  and  fertile  in  its  orginal  powers  of  thought  and 
expression,  as  Edmund  Burke's,  and  was  gifted  with  a  nature  as 
sensitive  and  affectionate  as  a  woman's.  No  person  ever  knew 
Eden  Foster  but  to  love  him,  and  no  person  ever  felt  his  influ- 
ence who  was  not  made  better.  The  spirit  that  eraenated  from 
these  ministers  of  religion,  inspired  the  church  and  prevaded 
the  whole  community.  In  the  schools  it  was  an  assimilating 
and  organizing  force,  building  into  a  consistent  unity  of  char- 
acter all  acquisitions  of  knowledge  and  personal  experience, 
and  so  elevating  the  tone  and  intelligence  of  the  general  public. 

The  immediate  agency  of  the  church  as  an  educator  has  been 
positive  and  absolute  through  all  the  Christian  centuries,  and  is 
still  active  in  conventual,  parochial  and  denominational  schools, 
but  the  invisible  influence  of  religious  truth,  permeating  the 
whole  mass  of  society  like  some  hidden  force  of  nature,  has 
been  the  paramount  power  through  which  the  church  has 
moulded  and  revolutionized  the  intellectual  and  moral  activities 
of  the  world. 

All  great  movements  spring  from  some  germinal  force  acting 
from  the  center  outward.  Such  forces  are  discoverable  every- 
where in. nature  from  the  stellar  systems  to  the  crystals  upon 
your  window  pane.  Social  organisms,  business  enterprises, 
governments  and  civilizations  are  evolutions  of  esoteric  ener- 
gies. So  the  founder  of  our  faith,  in  conformity  to  the  estab- 
lished order,  made  love  the  central  power  of  his  kingdom.  The 
apostle  was  commanded  to  sheathe  his  sword,  for  love  was  the 
fulfilling  of  the  law  in  the  new  dispensation.  This  to  the  spirit- 
ual is  what  gravitation  is  to  the  natural  world,  an  organizing 
and  controlling  power,  slowly  eliminating  perturbations  and  de- 


22 

veloping  its  absolute  control  over  human  history.  The  church 
is  the  visible  representative  of  this  spiritual  kingdom,  and  is 
only  legitimate  in  its  workings,  when  its  methods  are  dictated 
and  inspired  by  love.  Christ  was  sometimes  stern  and  severe 
in  the  utterance  and  defense  of  truth  as  his  followers  must  be, 
but  the  controlling  spirit  through  all  is  love. 

In  the  grand  march  of  the  church  through  human  events, 
like  its  divine  founder,  it  has  brought  light  and  uplifting  to  the 
mind  as  to  the  heart  of  the  race.  Sometimes  seduced  by  the  love 
of  power,  it  has  placed  fetters  upon  th  e  human  intellect,  but 
whenever  and  wherever  it  has  moved  in  the  spirit  of  its  master, 
it  has  founded  schools  and  universities,  and  devoted  its  re- 
sources and  its  power  to  the  diffusion  of  knowledge.  The 
foundation  of  arbitrary  jjower  resting  upon  the  ignorance  of 
the  masses  has  crumbled  ;  the  reign  of  slavery  is  over,  and  bar- 
barism is  being  driven  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  by 
the  spread  of  intelligence.  Ingenuity,  quickened  in  the  schools, 
is  lifting  the  race  from  the  bondage  of  toil  and  leading  it  up  to 
truer  and  grander  views  of  the  economy  of  grace.  These  are 
of  the  triumphs  of  the  church  moving  in  the  spirit  of  love 
through  the  schools  which  it  has  founded. 


MUSIC,  CHOIRS  AND  CHORISTERS. 


BY   HON.    OLIVER   PILLSBURY. 


In  the  absence  of  a  single  line  of  records  the  task  assigned 
me  is,  to  say  the  least,  somewhat  embarrassing.  Memory  is 
unreliable  in  the  classification  of  details  even  for  the  period  it 
covers.  Tradition  omits,  mixes  and  exaggerates,  frequently 
affording  only  a  mass  of  irreconcilable  incongruities  to  be  culled 
and  arranged  by  presumptive  probabilities.  The  result  is  then 
liable  to  partake  of  the  prejudices  as  well  as  the  judgment  of 
the  person  using  them.  Strict  chronological  accuracy  is  out  of 
the  question.  I  trust  you  will  therefore  moderate  your  expec- 
tations and  be  merciful  in  3'our  criticisms. 

You  will  allow  me,  when  I  have  occasion  to  refer  to  individu- 
als, to  use  the  names  they  were  familiarly  known  by  when  the 
events  occurred. 

It  may  safely  be  taken  for  granted  that  the  early  usages 
adopted  in  this  town  did  not  differ  materially  from  those  pre- 
vailing in  religious  assemblies  generally  in  New  England  down 
to  the  present  century.  Tate  and  Brady's  collection  of  hymns, 
at  first  used,  were  early  superseded  by  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms  and 
Hymns  which  became  the  standard,  and  congregational  singing 
was  the  universal  custom.  "Worcester's  Collection"  and  "The 
Village  Harmony"  furnished  the  tunes  for  a  long  period.  It 
was  customary  to  choose  a  leader  to  "set  the  tune"  or  "tune 
the  psalm"  as  it  was  called.  He  was  prominently  located  in 
front  of  the  congregation  near  the  deacon's  seat  and  usually  a 
few  of  the  best  singers  were  seated  near  by  as  supports.  The 
hymn  or  psalm  having  been  announced,  and  sometimes  read,  he 
named  the  tune,  gave  the  pitch  upon  a  wooden   instrument 


24 


called  a  "pitch  pipe"  and  then  read  two  lines,  usually,  which 
the  congregation   were  expected  to  join  with  him  in  singin^  • 
then  two  li^es  more  were  read  and  sung,  and  so  on  to  the  end 
of  the  hymn.     This  was  called  lining  and  some  times  deaconing 
the  hymn,  probably  from  the  fact  that  one  of  the  deacons  was 
generally  the  leader,  or  precentor,  as  they  were  called,  if  cap- 
able of  filhng  the  position.     It  required  very  close  attention  on 
the  part  of  the  leader  as  well  as  the  congregation  to  retain  the 
pitch  of  the  tune  and  remember  the  words  to   be  sung*      The 
tunes  were  ordinarily  strong  and  lively.     Fugues,  in  which  the 
parts  slid  or  tumbled  in  one  after  another  and  closed  with  a 
stirring  chorus  that  made  th*very  walls  of  the  church  tremble 
were  very  popular.     The  minor  tunes,  now  seldom  heard  at  all, 
were  indispensable  on   funeral    and   other   solemn   occasions. 
The  high  cost  and  scarcity  of  books  was  relieved  by  this  meth- 
od and  it  also  had  the  merit  of  placing  all  upon  anequalitv,  and 
inviting  and  enabling  all  to  join  in  the  devotional  exercises, 
feamuel  Mansfield  was  chosen  at  different  times  by  this  town  to 
*'tune  the  psalm"  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century 
and  there  is  evidence  extant  that  Amos  Gould  performed  this 
duty  still  later.     This  custom  probably  prevailed  in  this  town 
until  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Moses  Sawyer  in  1802  and  possibly 
a  little  later.     There  is  no  mention  either  in  history  or  tradition 
of  an  organized  choir  prior  to  this  time.     It  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  until  about  the   time  Mr.   Sawyer  was  settled  the 
church  and  State  were  united  and  everv  movement  of  import- 
ance was  voted  by  the  town.     The  settlement  of  Mr.  Sawyer 
virtually  achieved  the  separation  of  church  and  State  in  this 
town,  inasmuch  as  he  was  settled  by  the  "Calvinistic  Congre- 
gational Society"  acting  independently  of  the  town,  although 
the  "toleration  act"  was  not  passed  by  the  legislature  until  1819. 
At  the  new  era  then  commenced  it  is  probable  that  a  choir 
was^  organized.     Tradition  says  that  both  Mr.  Sawyer  and  his 

*Mr.Pillsbury  here  gave  a  brief  verbal  account  of  his   experience 
Jorty-nine   years  ago  as   precentor  of  a  large   congregation^n  New 

i^^Z^^T  ^f  ^'^-^  ""^^«^^  ^"  ^^^^'^i""'  and  particulafly  of  a  County 
Sabbath-school  anniversary  occasion  at  which  Hon.  Theodore  Frelin-' 

h^r;  '""'tT^^^''-^  «f  New  York  University,  was  the  orator  ^^f 
great  power       ^"""^  '^'''  ^'"'^  ^°^  '"^»  ^^  '^^  ^^^'  assemblage  with 


25 

wife  were  very  good  singers  and  that  a  choir  was  early  organ- 
ized at  their  solicitation  under  the  leadership  of  "Master  John 
Connor."  Mr.  Connor,  who  occupied  a  large  space  in  the  his- 
tory of  music  in  this  town  for  more  than  half  a  century,  was 
then  about  24  years  old.  He  was  teaching  singing  schools  all 
about  and  had  already  acquired  great  fame  as  a  singer  and 
musician.  He  possessed  a  rich  musical  voice  of  great  range 
and  compass  of  which  he  had  perfect  commaned,  throwing  it 
from  one  part  to  another  where  most  needed  or  where  he  could 
be  most  effective.  He  had  a  way  frequently,  especially  when 
singing  the  last  tune,  of  pouring  out  an  excelsior  strain  an  oc- 
tave above  the  key  of  such  sweetness  and  power  as  to  startle 
the  whole  congregation ;  and  some  of  them  used  to  say  the 
sound  rung  in  their  ears  all  the  week. 

He  was  supported  at  this  period  by  his  brothers,  George  and 
Abel,  Solomon  and  Josiah  Childs,  the  Morrisons,  Howes, 
Campbells  and  Pattersons,  and  a  little  later  by  Dyer  Abbott 
and  James  Atkinson,  and  still  later  by  the  Goulds  and  Fosters 
all  of  whom  were  more  or  less  musical  families. 

Mr.  Connor  claimed  the  credit,  and  no  doubt  justly,  of  de- 
veloping the  vocal  powers  of  several  girls,  as  he  used  to  call 
them,  and  particularly  of  Lucinda  Gould,  whose  memory  will 
long  be  cherished  by  this  people  for  her  many  virtues  and  great 
force  of  character.  She  was  doubtless  the  most  attractive  and 
accomplished  lady  singer  who  has  ever  resided  in  the  town.  Bass 
viols,  violins  and  some  wind  instruments  had  already  come  into 
use.  Mr.  Connor  was  very  skillful  with  the  former  and  doubt- 
less did  much  to  further  the  cultivation  of  instrumental  as  well 
as  vocal  music. 

We  are  not  informed  that  anything  occurred  out  of  the  ordi- 
nary course,  or  worthy  of  special  mention,  for  quite  a  number  of 
years.  Mr.  Connor  and  Mr.  Abbott  both  taught  singing  schools 
occasionally,  but  do  not  appear  ever  to  have  become  alienated 
from  each  other,  Mr.  Connor  retained  the  position  of  chorister 
and  Mr.  Abbott  sustained  him.  Matters  went  on  in  this  way 
until  the  winter  of  1823  and  '24.  Mr.  Connor,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  had  grown  somewhat  imperious  and  was  natur- 
ally very  outspoken  and  sharp  in  his  reproofs  and  criticisms. 


26 

This  created  friction  and  a  strong  movement  sprung  up  for  a 
change.  Liberal  subscriptions  were  obtained  and  the  services 
of  Dea.  P^zra  Barrett  of  AVarner,  a  ver}-  popular  teacher  of 
music,  were  secured  for  the  winter.  This  school  was  conducted 
afternoon  and  evening  in  Bartlett's  Hall,  which  was  in  the  house 
now  occupied  b}'  George  W.  Rice.  The  hall  was  arranged  with 
two  rows  of  seati-  on  three  sides  with  tables  in  the  center  for 
tlie  instrumental  performers.  The  "Bridgewater  Collection"  of 
tunes  was  used.  The  attendance  was  very  large,  embracing 
many  new  beginners  and  nearly  all  the  musical  tilent  in  the 
town.  The  school  was  a  great  success  and  closed  with  a  grand 
public  concert  in  the  church.  Dea.  Barrett  also  taught  the  next 
winter  with  unabated  success. 

Large  accessions  were  made  to  the  choir  from  these  schools, 
Mr.  Connor  still  retaining  the  choristership.  The  choir  ex- 
tended each  way  from  the  center  of  the  gallery  opposite  the 
pulpit  of  the  church,  that  was  burned,  to  and  around  the  cor- 
ners occupying  two  rows  of  seats.  Instead  of  massing  all  the 
best  singers  at  the  center  a  prominent  one  or  two  was  stationed 
at  the  extremes  to  hold  up  and  sustain  the  weak  and  faltering. 
Mr.  Abbott's  post  for  years  was  at  Ihe  extreme  right.  Among 
the  new  family  names  added  to  the  choir  at  this  time  were 
Woods,  Rice,  Whitney,  Pillsbury,  Gibson,  Searles,  Cogswell, 
Smith,  Livingstone  and  doubtless  others  besides  recruits  from 
families  already  named.  The  choir  was  doubtless  more  numer- 
ous at  this  time  than  at  any  other  period.  Of  bass  viol  players 
of  the  town,  in  addition  to  the  Connors,  may  be  mentioned 
Col.  Imri  Woods,  Dr.  Sanborn,  Samuel  Morrison,  William 
and  Jeremiah  Foster,  Carlos  Gould,  and  later  Hiram  Rice, 
Luther  Whitcomb  and  Washington  Cogswell.  William  Foster, 
at  the  solicitation  of  the  choir,  made  a  double  bass  viol  for 
their  use,  saying  at  the  outset  that  he  could  make  some- 
thing and  if  it  didn't  work  he  could  use  it  for  a  grain 
chest.  This  Jviol  was  burned  with  the  meeting-house.  The 
principal  violinists  were  Col.  Woods,  Perley  and  Micah  Howe, 
Worcester  Goss,  and  later  the  younger  Howes  and  the  far' 
famed  Columbus  Gibson.  Of  the  clarionet  players,  a  very 
popular  instrument  fifty  years  ago,  may  be  named  Carlos  Gould, 


27 

who  also  played  the  flute,  Frederick  Whitney,  J.  W.  Pillsbury, 
Frederick  and  Button  Woods,  Goodale  Childs,  Daniel  C.  Gould, 
and  Uri  Smith.  Robert  Eaton  later  played  the  flute.  Nearly 
all  of  this  list  of  musicians  at  one  time  or  another  rendered 
assistance  in  the  singing  schools  and  in  the  choir. 

Matters  appear  to  have  moved  on  succ«^ssfully  from  the  date 
of  the  Barrett  schools  without  much  cliange  other  than  members 
occasionally  dropping  out  until  the  winter  of  1831  and  '32.  In 
the  mean  time,  however,  Col.  Woods  had  become  chorister,  but 
at  what  date  cannot  now  be  determined.  A  strong  movement 
was  now  made  for  another  school,  to  include  beginners,  which 
proved  successful.  This  was  also  held  in  Bartlett's  hall  and 
was  taught  by  Col.  Woods.  It  introduced  new  family  names — 
Colby,  Whitcomb,  Bartlett  and  doubtless  others,  but  was  main- 
ly recruited  from  those  already  n^med.  The  families  of  those 
days  were  famous  for  furnishing  recruits,  numbering,  as  they 
did,  from  half  a  score  to  a  full  baker's  dozen,  they  held  out 
from  twenty  to  twenty-five  years  as  recruiting  stations.  This 
school  was  also  very  satisfactory  and  served  to  replenish  the 
choir.  Both  were  strongly  supported  by  instrumental  perform- 
ers. 

The  next  event  of  interest  to  the  choir  was  the  dedication  of 
this  church,  which  occurred  in  1834.  In  anticipation  of  this 
event  the  musical  talent  of  the  town  was  assembled  and  it  was 
voted  to  procure  the  "National  Choir,"  which  contained  particu- 
larly appropriate  selections  for  dedicatory  occasions.  This 
necessitated  meetings  for  practice  which  wei*e  fully  attended  by 
singers  and  instrumental  performers,  all  under  the  direction  of 
Col.  Woods,  whose  proverbially  winning  and  conciliatory  ways 
harmonized  the  different  elements  and  thus  secured  musical 
harmony  which  contributed  much  to  make  the  occasion  pleas- 
ing and  satisfactory. 

About  this  time  choirs  were  organized  for  the  two  other 
churches  erected  that  same  year.  This  divided  the  musical  tal- 
ent of  the  town  and  full  union  schools  were  at  an  end  ;  although 
no  unpleasantness  worthy  of  remark  ever  appeared. 

The  next  year  the  first  church  organ  was  procured.  This 
displaced  some  instrumental  performers  who  had  been  strong 


28 


supporters  of  the  choir  and  since  there  was  no  one  in  town  then 
who  could  play  the  organ,  it  was  thought  by  some  at  least,  Mr. 
Connor  and  Col.  Woods  among  them,  that  a  great  mistake  had 
been  made.  Dr.  Sanborn  took  charge  of  the  organ  but  could 
not  devote  sufficient  time  to  it  to  become  an  acceptable  player, 
consequently  there  «ere  long  intervals  in  which  it  was  scarcely 
opened.  Bass  viols,  violins  and  other  instruments  were  invited 
back  into  the  choir  again. 

At  length,  however,  the  services  of  Maria  Woods,  who  was 
then  giving  much  attention  to  musical  study,  were  secured  to 
take  charge  of  the  organ.  After  her  followed,  in  turn,  Miss 
Chaffin  and  Miss  Mills,  who  were  employed  here  as  music  teach- 
ers in  a  select  school.  Then  the  late  Washington  Cogswell  be- 
came the  organist  and  continued  such  many  years.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  that  he  was  doubtless  connected  with  the 
choir  more  consecutive  years  than  any  other  person  who  was 
ever  a  member.  He  was  succeeded  as  organist  by  his  sister, 
Susan,  who  continued  as  such  until  she  removed  to  Minnesota. 
Si.e  was  followed  by  Susan  Webster,  who  occupied  the  position 
quite  a  number  of  years.  Mrs.  Warren  Clark  succeeded  her 
and  was  the  organist  until  she  removed  to  Concord  in  1870. 
Shortly  alter  this  Carrie  Morse  became  the  organist  and  has  con- 
tinued as  such  until  the  present  time.  Others  have  played  the 
organ,  more  or  less,  to  fill  up  gaps  or  in  the  absence  of  the 
regular  organist.  Among  them  we  recall  Henrietta  Wilkins, 
Mary  Childs,  Lucy  Cliandler,  Mrs.  Julia  Folsom,  Enoch  Colby, 
Minnie  Cogswell  and  Mrs.  Hoffman. 

The  organ  now  in  use  was  procured  in  1871  largely  through 
the  liberality  of  Dea.  Horace  Childs  and  Mr.  A.  D.  L.  F. 
Connor. 

In  1836  another  very  popular  singing  school  was  conducted 
in  the  academy  by  Mr.  Breed  Batchelder,  who  was  the  first  pro- 
fessor employed  in  that  institution.  This  school  was  very  ful- 
ly attended,  bringing  in  the  family  names  of  Wallace,  Wilkins 
Campbell,  Barnes,  Peters  and  doubtless  others,  with  many  new 
recruits  from  families  already  named.  A  very  satisfactory  pub-  ' 
he  concert  was  given  in  the  church  at  its  close.  This  school 
also  served  to  replenish  the  choir.     Daniel  C.  Gould  was  chosen 


29 

chorister  at  this  time  and  retained  the  position  until  he  left 
town,  probably  in  1842. 

Singing  schools,  other  than  those  I  have  noted,  have  been 
frequent,  taught  b3'  residents  and  others,  all  the  way  along 
down  to  the  present  time  for  the  benefit  of  the  choir ;  but  have 
not  been  so  numerously  attended,  if  we  except  Prof.  Ben.  Davis' 
schools  which  embraced  all  ages  and  classes  without  much  ref- 
erence to  any  choir. 

Among  the  teachers,  not  already  named,  may  be  mentioned 
Leonard  Marshall,  of  Boston ;  Mr.  Cheney,  of  Holderness ; 
Frederick  Whitney,  Mr.  Gay,  of  Francestown ;  Mr.  Atwood, 
Mr.  Chandler,  of  Antrim ;  Imri  S.  Whitney,  Mr.  Barton,  of 
Newport ;  Mr.  Ingalls,  of  Concord  ;  Benjamin  Colby,  Worcester 
Mon-ison,  Harris  W.  Campbell  and  Enoch  Colby.  Julia  A. 
Childs,  Maria  Woods  and  Mrs.  Warren  Clark,  all  of  whom  stood 
at  the  head  of  the  choir,  more  or  less,  taught  juvenile  classes 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Sabbath-school,  and  several  very  interest- 
ing public  exhibitions  were  given. 

Nearly  all  these  schools,  except  thejuvenile  classes,  have  been 
supported  by  voluntary  contributions  and  were  thus  made  free 
to  all.  This  speaks  well  for  the  liberality  of  the  town  and  so- 
ciety. As  the  result  of  this  liberality  and  public  spirit  the 
musical  talent  has  been  developed  and  the  town  has  always 
been  favored  with  an  unusual  share  of  acceptable  performers. 
It  would  be  pleasant  to  call  attention  to  many  individual  names, 
but  lack  of  time  will  not  permit.  Without  doubt  the  native 
musical  genius  of  John  Connor,  starting  away  back  in  the  last 
century,  had  much  to  do  with  giving  tone  and  shaping  the  drift 
of  musical  culture  and  progress  in  the  town.  He  was  endowed 
with  exquisite  musical  taste  and  often  used  to  say  "Noise  is 
not  music."  A  few  months  before  his  death,  at  the  age  of  83, 
he  selected  the  hymns,  tunes  and  singers  for  his  funeral ;  and 
the  last  direction  given  to  a  friend  only  a  few  hours  before  his 
death  was  "sing  softly."  Col.  Woods  also  did  much  for  the 
cultivation  of  music,  as  also  did  Frederick  Whitney  by  his  loug 
and  unabated  interest.  He  was  chorister  at  different  times, 
assisted  latterly  by  his  estimable  wife.     Of  non-residents,  de- 


30 


scendants  of  the  town,  may  be  named  Irari  S.  Whitney,  who 
made  musical  science  his  life  work,  having  taught  successfully 
many  years  in  Manchester  and  elsewhere,  Seth  Abbott,  son  of 
Dyer  Abbott,  already  named,  has  achieved  notority  as  a  singer 
and  his  daughter,  Emma  Abbott,  has  charmed  both  hemi- 
spheres with  her  peerless  vocal  performances.  She  is  now  at 
the  head  of  a  noted  opera  troupe.  Your  own  inimitable  Gib- 
son has  carried  the  artistic  musical  standard  so  high  that  it  is 
scarcely  probable  the  town  will  again  reach  it  in  another 
century. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  all  the  schools  may  have  broucxht 
recruits  to  the  choir,  the  membership  has  been  diminishing  for 
many  years,  owing,  in  part,  to  the  scarcity  of  young  people  and 
m  part,  it  is  believed,  to  lack  of  interest  or  desire  to  become 
smgers  ;  other  amusements  being  more  attractive,  for  the  time 
being,  but,  as  we  believe,  far  less  satisfactory  in  the  long  run. 
This,  we  regret  to  say,  is  the  case  otherwheres.  In  the  cities, 
where  there  is  no  lack  for  numbers,  expensive  quartette  choiis 
18  the  rule.  They  are  simply  quasi  theatrical  performers  who 
please  and  entertain,  while  the  real  worshippers  are  left  to  take 
up  the  refrain  (in  silence  of  course).  "Hosannas  languish  on 
our  tongues,  and  our  devotion  dies." 

To  say  the  current  has  alway  run  evenly,  without  jars,  jeal- 
ousies or  rivalries,  would  doubtless  be  saying  too  much,  since  the 
members  of  the  choir  have  been  human.  It  is  gratifying,  how- 
ever, to  be  able  to  say,  that  it  is  believed  these  temporary  dis- 
cords have  left  no  lasting  alienations  of  friendship.  They  have 
generally  resulted  from  the  indiscreet  remarks  and  meddlesome 
criticisms  of  outsiders  whose  preferences  and  judgment  were 
allowed  to  have  undue  weight.  The  choir  has  been  sustained 
all  these  many  years  by  volunteers  and  performed  its  part  in 
the  devotional  exercises  acceptably  to  the  congregation  and  we 
trust  acceptably  to  Him  who  has  endowed  us  with  powers  to 
make  melody  in  our  hearts  and  sing  His  praise. 

Of  those  who  have  been  choristers  not  already  named  may  be 
mentioned,  Asa  Whitney,  Benjamin  Colby,  Imri  S.  Whitney, 
Worcester  Morrison,  Ephraim   Goss,  Enoch  Colby  and  Harris 


31 

W.  Campbell,  who  is  the  present  chorister,  supported  on   the 

right  by  Mis.  Sarah  Goss.* 

The  present  choirf  is  here  to  speak  for  itself  and  needs  no 

commendation  from  me.     It  is  sad  to  reflect  that  time  will 

make  inroads  upon  it  as  has   been  the  case  in  the  past.     We 

trust,  however,  that  the  long  procession  of  its  members,  who 

have  crossed  to  the  other  shore,  are  chanting  in  nobler  strains 

than  they  were  permitted  to  utter  here.     It  is  devoutly  hoped 

that,  as  one  after  another  falls  by  the  way,  others  will  stand 

ready  to  take  up  the  songs  of  the  sanctuary  ;  that  as  the  Lord  God 

promised  the  Hebrew  King  that  he  should  not  want  a  man  to 

stand  before   Him   forever,   so  there  may  never  be   wanting   a 

choir  to  stand   before   Him   and   this   people  in  this  beautiful 

earthly  Temple. 

♦Societies  have  been  formed,  from  time  to  time,  for  practice  and 
mutual  improvement.  In  ttie  winter  of  1879  the  choir  extended  invi- 
tations to  all  persons  who  had  ever  been  members  to  meet  them  in  re- 
union. Quite  a  large  number  responded  in  person  and  others  by  let- 
ter.    The  occasion  was  very  enjoyable. 

fNames  of  present  members  of  the  choir : — Tenor,  Harris  W.  Camp- 
bell, leader,  E.  P.  Goss;  Bass,  H.  A.  Emerson,  R.  L.  Childs,  O.  A. 
Newton;  Soprano,  Mrs.  E.  P.  Goss,  Mrs.  Josiah  Emery,  Sarah  M. 
Petbody,  Anna  J.  Newton,  Minnie  A.  Cogswell;  Alto,  Mrs.  Horace 
Childs,  Mrs  Geo.  C.  Preston,  Mrs.  H.  W.  (Campbell,  Mrs.  Washington 
Cogswell;  Organist,  Carrie  L.  Morse. 


ANNIVERSARY  HYMN -NO.  i 
I. 

More  precious,  Lord,  than  sands  of  gold, 

Or  perfumes  of  the  storied  East, 
Thy  mercies  from  the  days  of  old. 

Thy  favors  year  by  year  increased  I 
To-day  our  hearts  and  hands  we  raise. 

Like  climbing  vines  that  seek  the  sun. 
In  glad  and  grateful  songs  of  praise, 

For  battles  fought  and  triumphs  won ! 

II. 

As  to  the  humble,  saintly  ones 

A  hundred  years  ago  and  more. 
In  winter's  frosts  and  summer's  suns. 

The  flying  days  Thy  blessing  bore ; 
So  to  the  children's  children  now. 

Who  tread  the  paths  their  feet  have  trod, 
And  at  the  self-same  altar  bow, 

Thy  favor  show,  most  gracious  God. 

III. 

Make  more  and  more  Thy  grace  abound ; 

Give  to  Thy  saving  word  success ; 
Through  saintly  lives  Thy  gospel  sound 

Abroad,  and  needy  nations  bless ! 
Here  let  a  faithful  people  give 

Thee  homage  to  the  latest  time, 
In  faith,  and  love,  and  union  live, 

And  ripen  for  a  Heavenly  Clime ! 


ANNIVERSARY  HYMN.-NO.  2. 

Tune,  Portuguese  Hymn. 
I. 
With  gladness  we  come  to  Thy  temple,  O  Lord, 

To  tell  of  Thy  goodness  for  many  a  day ; 
The  covenant  gifts  of  Thy  grace  to  record, 
So  signally  crowning  and  blessing  the  way. 


33 


II. 

The  Church  of  Thy  planting,  well  watered  and  fed, 
Well  nourished  and  guarded  and  quickened  by 
Thee, 

Continues  to  flourish  and  graciously  shed 
The  light  of  Thy  word  o'er  the  land  and  the  sea. 

III. 

Here  fathers  and  mothers  have  labored  and  prayed, 
And  sown  th»i  good  seed  with  a  liberal  hand ; 

Have  finished  their  work,  and  the  summons  obeyed 
With  confident  hope  in  Thy  presence  to  stand ! 

IV. 

Here  children  with  filial  devotion  to  day, 
Are  bearing  the  burdens  they  heartily  bore, 

Rejoicing  with  patience  to  labor  and  pray, 
Till  places  that  know  them  shall  know  them  no 
more. 

V. 

Thy  blessing,  our  Father,  we  pray  Thee  bestow ; 

Thy  promise,  remember,  to  be  with  Thine  own ! 
Give  wisdom  the  virtues  and  graces  to  grow, 

And  gamer  in  Heaven  when  the  harvest  is  grown ! 


THE  MISSION  WORK  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


BY   REV.    WILLIAM  WOOD. 


ELIZABETH  PROCTOR, 

sister  of  Mrs.  Judge  Darling,  and  of  Dea.  John  Proctor,  was 
born  in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  Feb.  1st,  1773.  She  professed  relig- 
ion in  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  Nov.  1810,  studied  at  Rev.  Joseph 
Emerson's  school,  Byfield,  Mass.  She  was  one  of  the  four 
female  teachers  of  the  first  four  classes  of  small  children  gath- 
ered into  our  Sunday-school  in  1815.  In  1822  she  went  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  Cherokee  Indians  in  Georgia.  She  pursued  her 
journey  alone  through  the  wilderness,  on  foot  and  on  horseback 
fording  rivers  and  enduring  many  hardships.  She  reached 
High  Tower  in  the  Cherokee  nation  Feb.  14,  1823.  For  four 
years  she  taught  among  the  Indians.  In  1827  she  married 
Rev.  Daniel  Sabin  Buttrick,  a  missionary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F. 
M.  in  the  same  field,  with  whom  she  laliored  until  her  death 
Augusts,  1847. 


CASSANDER  SAWYER, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Moses  Sawyer,  second  pastor  of  this  church, 
was  born  June  24,  1809.  She  professed  religion  at  Chilicothe, 
Ohio,  1829  ;  studied  at  Ipswich  Female  Seminary  under  Miss 
Grant  and  Miss  Lynn.  September  22,  1833,  she  married  Rev. 
Jesse  Lockwood.  In  October  of  the  same  year  she  left  with 
her  husband  for  Dwight  Station,  in  the  Cherokee  nation,  where 
they  arrived  Jan.  25,  1834.  Her  husband  died  in  the  July  fol- 
lowing ;  the  next  year  she  returned  home  to  her  father's  house, 
where  she  remained  till  her  death,  June  23,  1840. 


35 

TIMOTHY  DARLING, 
son  of  Judge  Darling,  born  Dec.  24,  1798,  was  one  of  the  four- 
teen persons  composing  the  first  class  for  the  study  of  the  Bible 
in  our  Sunday-school,  in  1814.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard, 
studied  law  and  practiced  in  Hillsboro'  and  Loudon,  this  state, 
in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  ;Ypsilanti,  Michigan,  He  afterwards 
studied  theology  at  Gilmanton,  and  was  under  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  from  June  1,  1846,  to  June  1,  1850,  and  min- 
istered to  the  Congregational  Church  of  South  Wales,  N.  Y. 


REV.  JOSIAH  HILL 

and  his  wife  Abigail  (Bacon)  Hill  united  with  this  church  Feb. 
8,  1818.  I  remember  them  in  my  earlier  years  as  residing  in 
the  house  nearest  the  school-house  in  ''Westbury  Corner." 
About  the  year  1826  or  '27  he  entered  upon  a  course  of  study 
for  the  ministry.  He  was  ordained  and  preached  at  Lynnfield, 
Mass.  While  there  he  visited  Henniker,  preached  for  Rev.  Mr. 
Scales  and  also  one  evening  in  the  Westbury  Corner  school- 
house.  I  have  been  able  to  gather  very  little  of  their  career.  It 
would  seem  that  their  work  was  of  the  nature  of  home  mission- 
ary work,  that  on  leaving  Lynnfield  they  went  west,  which 
meant,  in  those  days,  the  st;ite  of  New  York  and  Michigan, 
perhaps,  where  they  were  lost  sight  of. 


MARY  L.  WADSWORTH, 

daughter  of  Titus  Vespartian  and  Susanna(  Warde)  Wardsworth, 
was  born  May*  17,  1836.  At  the  age  of  15  she  united  with  the 
church  at  Franklin.  In  1861  she  graduate  at  South  Hadley 
Female  Seminary.  She  entered  the  profession  of  a  teacher, 
but  afterward  studied  medicine,  graduating  first  in  her  class  in 
1867  from  the  Female  Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  She 
practised  her  profession  at  Springfield.  Excelling  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  she  was  in  three  years  invited  by  her  Alma 
Mater  (South  Hadley)  to  become  teacher  and  practicing  physi- 
cian in  that  institution.  At  the  same  time  she  received  a  most 
urgent  request  from  the  Woman's  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
to  go  to  Constantinople  to  labor   as   a   Missionary   physician 


36 

among  the  Mohammedans.  She  accepted  this  invitation,  and  in 
1871  left  home  for  that  distant  city.  Not  finding  ready  access 
to  the  Mohammedans,  her  practice  was  confined  to  mission  fami- 
lies, and  the  Armenians  and  Bulgarians.  This  was  no  sraal} 
field.  Failing  health  led  her  to  the  cooler  regions  of  Asia 
Minor ;  while  there  she  became  acquainted  with  Di-.  John  Bas- 
sian,  of  Brousa,  a  native  of  that  country,  but  a  graduate  of 
Michigan  University,  and  was  united  with  him  in  marriage  in 
1873,  since  which  time  they  have  practiced  medicine  in  that 
city. 


•  SOCRATES  SMITH, 

son  of  Ezekiel  and  Abigail  (Wilder)  Smith,  was  born  June  16> 
1814.  April  29,  1835,  he  united  with  this  church,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one.  Like  most  young  men  of  the  town  he  grew  up 
to  hard  work  on  the  farm.  The  spirit  of  the  age  for  better 
means  to  a  higher  education  began  about  this  time  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  leading  men  of  our  town.  He  was  ia  the  Hen^ 
niker  Academy  two  years,  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College 
in  1842.  He  entered  Union  Theological  Seminary,  N.Y.  After 
three  years  he  married  Lydia  Maria  Harwood,  and  entered  at 
once  upon  Home  Mission  work  in  the  West,  under  the  Ameri- 
can Home  Missionary  Society.  He  served  churches  at  Beards- 
town,  Panther  Creek,  Jersey ville,  and  Troy,  111.,  also  taught  at 
Greenville  for  three  years.  He  died  in  1869.  In  the  Academy 
and  in  College  and  Theological  Seminary,  Mr.  Smith  was  a 
hard  working  student.  He  had  a  hard  struggle  with  poverty. 
I  entered  the  seminary  after  he  had  been  there  two  years,  and 
he  told  me  himself  that  he  had  lived  for  many  a  week  on  12J 
cents  a  week.  A  sljce  of  dry  bread  dipped  in  a  little  poor 
molasses  made  his  meal.  Dr.  Coe,  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
American  Home  Missionary  Society,  in  a  letter  to  me,  gives  this 
testimony  to  him  :  "He  had  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
conductors  of  the  society  as  a  faithful  and  useful  missionary." 


ELIZABETH  DARLING, 

daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Proctor)  Darling,   was  born 


87 

Jan.  5,  1812,  about  a  month  before  the  first  missionary  band 
of  the  American  Board — Hall,  Nott,  Rice,  Judson  and  Newell 
— sailed  for  their  mission  field  in  the  P^astern  world.  When  a 
young  girl  Mrs.  B.  read  a  memoir  of  Harriet  Newell,  and 
after  it  was  finished  she  said  to  her  mother  that  she  wanted  to 
be  like  Harriet  Newell  and  become  a  missionary.  Her  mother, 
lading  her  hand  on  her- head,  said,  "My  dear,  I  trust  that 
when  you  are  older  you  will  engage  in  the  same  work."  We 
cannot  doubt  that  this  little  incident  had  much  to  do  in  giving 
shape  to  her  whole  life  and  character.  I  can,  in  the  time  al- 
lotted, give  but  a  faint  outline  of  her  useful  life.  From  the  in- 
cident related  it  is  evident  that  her  heart  was  drawn  to  the 
service  of  the  Lord  from  a  child.  She  united  with  the  church 
in  1832.  In  the  meantime  she  was  improving  her  mind  at 
home  and  elsewhere  with  a  view  of  teaching.  Derry  of  this 
state  and  Ipswich  of  Massachusetts  were,  at  this  time,  cele- 
brated for  their  seminaries  for  young  ladies.  She  studied 
at  both  and  graduated  at  the  latter  taking  high  rank  as  a 
scholar.  May  5,  1835,  she  married  Rev.  Henry  Ballantine 
of  Marion,  Ohio.  On  the  16th  of  May  they  embarked  from 
Boston  in  a  sailing  vessel  for  Bombay,  and  arrived  there  on 
the  11th  of  Oct.,  following.  After  one  year  at  Bombay,  devoted 
to  the  study  of  the  Marathi  language,  they  went  to  Ahmednagar, 
which  city  and  state  was  the  field  for  their  life  work.  Not  the 
first  to  enter  this  field,  yet  their  work  was  largely  pioneer  work. 
Their  home  was  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  a  city  of  30,000  peo- 
ple. Their  house  is  a^Iohammedan  structure  of  massive  stone 
walls  six  feet  thick,  with  an  upper  story.  It  is  flat  roof  over- 
looking the  city.  This  is  a  favorite  resort  of  the  missionaries 
for  a  breath  of  pure,  cool,  evening  air.  The  yard  of  their  home 
contains  about  two  acres.  In  this  yard  are  Mrs.  Ballantine's 
school-houses  and  others  for  native  helpers  and  native  Chris- 
tians who  clung  close  to  the  missionary  in  early  days  for  sup- 
port and  protection.  This  was  the  scene  of  Mrs.  B.'s  labors 
for  thirty  years,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three  years  spent  in 
America.  During  these  years  she  had  charge  of  "Christian 
Girls'  School"  spending  from  three  or  four  hours  daily  in  the 
school.     Besides  this  she  selected  and  took  to  her  home  some 


38 

of  the  scholars  and  spent  much  time  in  teaching  them  the  Bible. 
There  are  many  well  educated  Christian  women,  graduates  of  this 
school  who  are  now  wives  and  mothers,  guiding  well  their  house- 
holds, and  are  usefully  employed  not  only  in^our  missions  but 
in  the  missions  of  other  societies  in  Western  India.  As  many 
mothers  came  to  reside  here  and  care  for  their  children,  Mrs. 
Ballantine  would  gather  them  at  some  hour,  usually  at  noon, 
and  Christian  or  heathen,  daily,  read  and  teach  them  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  Most  of  the  girls  of  this  school  were  brought  into 
the  church.  The  printed  reports  for  eightyears,  1857-64,  say 
that  39  girls  were  received  to  the  church,  an  average  of  five 
yearly.  At  that  time  the  school,  for  lack  of  accommodations, 
numbered  but  50.  Within  a  few  years  a  nice,  large  school- 
house  has  been  built  and  the  number  of  pupils  is  now  150.  The 
zenana  work  in  those  days  had  not  opened  up  so  fully  as  now, 
as  the  door  of  access  to  them  opened  Mrs.  Ballantine  entered 
upon  this  work  with  great  diligence  and  zeal.  One  would  think 
that,  with  all  these  duties  and  cares,  she  had  little  to  do  with 
household  affairs,  not  so,  she  had  servants  but  everything  was 
carefully  superintended  by  herself.  A  plain,  but  well  spread, 
table  around  which  her  large  family  gathered  three  time  a  day, 
with  the  regularity  of  South  Hadley  rules,  was  a  picture  of  rare 
felicity  and  beauty.  In  a  visit  of  the  deputation  to  the  mis- 
sions of  India  in  1854,  Dr.  Anderson  pronounced  Mrs.  Ballan- 
tine "a  model  housekeeper."  The  mental  and  religious  training 
of  her  children  depended  largely  upon  her.  There  were  no 
schools  for  them  at  Ahmednagar.  With  the  rudiments  of  a 
good  education  from  their  parents  the  children  all  ranked  high  in 
the  schools  and  colleges  of  this  country  where  they  came  to  fin- 
ish their  education.  A  life  of  such  toil  for  thirty  years  is  a 
great  work  and  a  great  tax  upon  one's  energies,  but  in  such  a 
climate  as  India  it  can  be  perform  by  few.  Hard,  incessant 
work  at  .last  broke  down  the  health  of  Mr.  Ballantine  and  in 
the  autum  of  1865  the  parents,  with  their  two  children  then  with 
them,  left  India  for  America.  Mr.  Ballantine  died  off  Portugal 
and  was  buried  in  the  Atlantic  ocean.  For  the  last  nine  years 
Mrs.  Ballantine  has  found  a  home  at  Amherst,  Mass  She  could 
not  return  to  India  but  her  heart  is  there.     Her  elder  daugh- 


39 

ter,  Mary,  mamed  Mr.  Fairbanks  and  returned  to  India,  in 
1856.  Four  years  later  Elizabeth,  her  second  daughter,  married 
Mr.  Harding  and  returned  to  India.  In  1870  Anna,  the  fourth 
daughter,  mamed  Mr.  Park  and  went  to  the  same  field  in  India. 
In  1875  Dr.  William  Ballantine  followed  as  a  missionary  physi- 
cian. Henry,  the  elder  son,  a  graduate  of  Amherst,  has  been, 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  in  India  in  mercantile  agencies  which 
leads  him  to  travel  over  that  eastern  world.  Miss  Fairbanks, 
grandchild  of  Mrs.  Ballantine,  is  now  teacher  of  the  "Girl's 
School"  at  Ahmednagar ;  Henry  Fairbanks,  brother  of  Miss 
Fairbanks,  has  two  years  more  at  Yale  Theological  Seminary. 
He  expects  to  go  as  a  missionary  where  his  parents  and  grand- 
parents labored.  The  mother's  utterance,  in  the  agony  of  her 
buried  hopes,  as  she  saw  the  remains  of  her  deceased  husband 
sink  beneath  the  Atlantic  waves,  "It  does  not  seem  possible 
that  I  can  ever  return  to  the  scene  of  my  missionary  labors 
again  ;  but  this  one  thing  I  will  do,  I  will  educate  my  children 
and  send  them  back"  is  more  than  fulfilled.  It  reaches  on  to  the 
gi'andchildren  and  why  should  it  not  be  perpetuated  to  the  third 
and  fourth  generation  and  on  and  on  till  the  missionary  work 
shall  be  needed  no  more?  when  there  shall  be  no  need  of  one 
saying  to  another  "Know  thou  the  Lord  ;  for  all  shall  know 
Him  from  the  least  even  unto  the  greatest."  John  Ballantine 
is  a  minister  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  and  Julia  married  a  minis- 
ter, Rev.  Mr.  Greenwood,  who  is  settled  at  Windsor,  Vt.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Park  are  now  in  this  country.  He  is  pastor  of  the 
Howard  Avenue  church,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


WILLIAM  WOOD. 


The  question  has  been  asked  "What  led  you  to  become  a 
missionary  ?"  There  may  be  some  here  to-day  asking  the  same 
question.  During  the  great  and  precious  revival  of  religion  in 
1831  I  was  one  of  the  converts  and  with  some  fifty  others  united 
with  the  church  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  at  the  age  of  thirteen. 
In  the  written  nan-ative  of  my  Christian  experience  I  find  these 
words  :  "If  I  know  my  own  heart  I  have  a  desire  to  serve  God 
the  rest  of  my  days."   The  new  spiritual  life  given  in  the  conver- 


40 


sion  of  the  soul  was  the  j?erm  which  led  me  to  be  a  missionary, 
tha!   germ  was  quickened  into  life  when  I  was  received  into 
membership  with  a  church  of  which  its  members  were  warm- 
hearted,  earnest  and  devoted.     The  atmosphere  was  one  of 
love.    Fervid  were  the  prayers  offered.    Our  pastor,  Mr.  Scales, 
was  alive  to  the  work  of  teaching  us  the  first  principles  of  the 
Christian  faith.     The  members  of  the  church  were  helpers  in 
the  same  direction  ;  by  them  we  were  encouraged  to  take  a 
part  in  prayer-meetings,  testifying  what  God  had  done  for  us 
and  to  lead  in  prayer.     The  young  members  of  the  church  were 
encouraged  to  have  prayer-meetings  of  their  own  in  the  differ- 
ent neighborhoods  of  the  town,  to  pray  for  one  another,  and 
for  their  young  friends  and  urge  them  to  come  to  Christ.     We 
went  by  two  and  two  from  house  to  house  till  all  the  families 
of  the  town  were  visited.     What  is  this  but  missionary  work 
and  what  were  we  but  missionaries?     Mr.  Scales  earlv  brought 
before  our  minds  the  subject  of  the  Christian  ministry  as  our 
life  work,  and  in  time  a  class  of  six  young  brethren  of  our 
church  was  formed  and  entered  upon  a  course  of  study  for 
preaching  the  gospel.     I  was  one  of  the  six.     George  Champion 
of  Colchester,  Conn.,  where  Mr.  Scales  formerly  preached,  de- 
cided about  this  time  to  be  a  missionary  to  the  Zulus  of   South 
Africa.     He   visited   Mr.    Scales   and   preached  here.     Amos 
Sutton,   a  Baptist   missionary,  also   preached    in   our   church 
Later  Elizabeth  Darling  left  us  for  India  as  a  missionary.     By 
these  living  examples  of  consecration  to  mission  work  my  at- 
tention was  directed  to  the  same  work.     Academy  and  college 
days  passed  by ;  six  years  of  hard  study  and  the  want  of  funds 
led  me  to  teach  for  a  time.     In  1844  I  entered  Union  Theologi- 
cal  Seminary  of  New  York.     The  missionary  spirit  was  there 
Rowland  was  under  appointment,  three  members  of  my  class 
had  decided  to  enter  the  field.     George  Bowen,  who  went  with 
me  to  India,  was  one  of  the  three.     A  missionary  revival  con- 
tinned  all  the  time.     In  the  vacation  of  the  first  year,  while- 
employed  as  colporter  of  the  American  Tract  Society  in  Clinton 
County,  N.  Y.,  I  came  to  the  decision  to  became  a  missionary 
to  foreign  lands  and  on  my  return  to  the  Seminary  I  entered 
the  "Missionary  Band."     I  finished  my  studies  in  1847   was 


41 

ordained  in  this  house  July  8th  of  the  same  3'ear,  was  united  in 
marriage  on  the  11th  with  Lucy  Maria  Lawrence  of  Groton, 
Mass.,  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  31st  for  Bombay,  and  after 
nearly  a  six  months'  voyage  arrived  there  Jan.  19,  1848.  Our 
first  work  was  the  study  of  the  language,  which  is  Marathi.  To" 
ward  the  end  of  the  year  I  made  my  first  effort  at  preaching. 
The  leadings  of  Providence  sent  us  to  Satara,  an  interior  sta- 
tion, 168  miles  south-west  of  Bombay.  Satara  had  then  a 
population  of  32,000,  the  capital  of  a  state,  of  the  same  name, 
of  a  million  and  a  quarter  of  pagans.  Others  had  labored  here 
at  times,  but  it  was  not  considered  a  station  of  our  mission  till 
we  went  there  in  1849.  There  was  no  mission  house,  no  house 
for  us  to  live  in,  no  chapel  and  no  school-house.  In  due  season 
we  built  a  good  mission  house,  beautiful  for  situation,  a  chapel 
and  school-room  were  also  soon  built.  Death  is  busy  in  a  tropi- 
cal climate.  We  had  not  been  in  our  new  mission  three  months 
before  he  entered  and  took  from  it  the  light  of  my  home. 
With  two  little  boys  I  labored  there  alone  till  a  brother  mis- 
sionary and  his  wife  with  two  little  daughters  came  to  live  with 
me.  In  less  than  two  years  that  dear  missionary  sister  ended 
her  work.  For  nearly  a  year  I  was  thus  left  to  be  father  and 
mother  to  my  own  little  boys  and  to  three  little  daughters  of  my 
brother  missionary.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1854  I  took  my 
little  boys  to  this  country  and  returned  to  India  in  1856.  In 
1857  the  Sepoy  mutiny  came  on,  a  hundred  thousand  Sepoys 
were  in  arms,  and  for  a  long  time  it  seemed  that  every  Christian 
in  India,  European  and  native,  would  be  cut  off.  We  were 
mercifully  cared  for  by  our  Heavenly  Father.  Our  work  went 
on  again  till  1859  when  I  was  again  left  alone.  For  two  years 
and  a  half  alone  I  held  on,  sowing  in  tears ;  not  tired  of  the 
work,  but  tired  and  breaking  down  in  health.  Again  I  came  to 
America  for  health.  In  1865  again  I  returned  to  the  work.  I 
cannot  in  the  time  allotted  tell  of  the  work.  I  employed  native 
Christian  men  and  women  to  help  me  in  preacftiing  and  teach- 
ing and  putting  into  circulation  far  and  wide  the  Word  of  God, 
in  the  Scriptures,  in  books  and  tracts  and  in  every  feasible 
method  which  offered  to  bring  truth  to  the  people.  You  may 
ask,  "why  did  you  give  up  the  work?"     For  the  same  reason 


42 

that  the  soldier  is  removed  from  the  battle-field,  not  dead  but 
wounded  and  unfit  for  service.  The  place  for  him  is  in  the  hos- 
pital or  his  home  among  friends.  Disabled  I  left  the  work  for 
others  to  do.  Since  I  left  India  I  am  thankful  to  say  that  the 
work  is  going  on  with  increased  interest.  The  church  has  in- 
creased in  numbers  and  in  strength  and  is  now  self-supporting. 
They  have  an  excellent  native  pastor,  good  schools  for  Chris- 
tian and  heathen  children  and  a  force  of  native  helpers  employed 
in  evangelistic  work.  "All  the  way  my  Father  led  me."  He 
led  me  to  that  distant  land ;  He  led  me  back  ;  He  led  me  to 
my  present  beautiful  home  in  the  country  town  of  North  Bran- 
ford,  Conn.  In  a  small  way  I  am  pursuing  the  avocation  of 
my  youth — a  tiller  of  the  soil.  For  eleven  years  I  have  been  a 
quasi  pastor.  I  have  a  large  Bible  class  and  find  enough  Chris-? 
tian  work  to  occupy  my  time.  I  feel  that  I  am  a  missionary 
still,  and  I  expect  to  be  a  missionary  so  long  as  I  live. 
Henniker,  June  7,  1884. 


Historical  address.  * 


BY  J.  M.  K.  EATON,  J9asf or  of  the  church  for  17  years. 


A  church  is  a  formally  organized  body  of  Christian  believers 
worshiping  together.  This  defines  the  word  church  according 
to  our  ideas  of  it.  There  are  many,  however,  who  would  not 
accept  this  definition,  who  speak  of  the  church,  meaning  there- 
by all  bodies  of  believers  who  observe  the  same  rites  and  ac- 
knowledge the  same  ecclesiastical  authority ;  such  as  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  But  this  method  of  subjecting  all  believers  to 
some  definite  form  of  government  is  post-apostolic.  It  is  some- 
thing which  grew  into  existence  gradually,  originating,  doubt- 
less, not  from  any  Scriptural  instruction  or  suggestion,  but 
from  the  nature  of  the  civil  govei'nment  which,  at  the  time, 
swayed  its  sceptre  over  both  Jews  and  Gentiles.  We  prefer, 
however,  to  go  back  of  all  this  human  machinery  to  the  time 
when  the  gospel,  preached  by  the  apostles,  was  proving  itself 
the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God  to  many  who  believed 
in  various  parts  of  the  empire  and  were  gathered  into  churches. 
In  accordance  with  this  we  read  that  Paul  and  Silas  went 
through  Syria  and  Cilicia  confirming  the  churches.  We  have 
the  authority  of  Christ  to  the  same  effect,  who  taught  the  apos- 
tle John  to  write,  "He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches.^'  It  is  of  one  of  these  churches, 
amenable  to  no  human  authority  for  its  forms  of  worship,  in  doc- 
trinal belief  built  upon  the  foundation  of  prophets  and  apostles, 
Jesus  Christ,  himself,  being  the  chief  corner  stone,  and  animat- 
ed by  the  spirit  of  the  living  God,  that  we  are  about  to  speak. 

Christian  churches,  adopting  essentially  the  same  form  of 
government,  and  the  same  great  underlying  principles  of  re- 
vealed truth,  will  often  develope  different  traits  of  character, 


44 

occasioned  by  various  circumstances.  But  while  this  may  be 
true  their  leading  characteristics  will  be  alike  because  wrought 
out  by  the  inworking  of  the  same  divine  Spirit  and  through  the 
same  God-given  revelation. 

Time  and  circumstances  will  allow  us  to  give  but  a  very  brief 
history  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Henniker. 

The  territory,  originally  known  as  No.  6,  was  granted  to  cer- 
tain persons  July  16,  1752,  but  was  not  incorporated  till  Nov. 
10,  1768,  when  it  received  its  name  in  honor  of  John  Henniker, 
Esq.,  of  London,  Eng.  Among  other  conditions  on  which  this 
tract  of  land  was  granted  we  find  the  following,  that  "within  the 
space  of  three  years  from  the  time  of  their  being  admitted,  they 
[the  grantees]  build  and  finish  a  convenient  meeting-house  for 
the  public  worship  of  God  and  settle  a  learned  Orthodox  minis- 
ter." This  territory  was  to  be  laid  out  into  shares  and  one  of 
the  shares  was  reserved  "for  the  first  minister  of  the  gospel 
who  shall  be  regularly  settled  on  the  said  trat-t  of  land,  and 
continue  there  during  his  life,  or  until  he  be  regularly  dismiss- 
ed ;"  and  "that  one  other  of  said  shares  be  for  the  use  of  the 
ministry  there  forever."  And  "that  one  of  the  lots  of  the 
share  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  be  laid  out  in  the  most  con- 
venient place  for  building  a  meeting-house."  The  committee 
appointed  to  locate  this  house  of  worship  reported,  as  early  as 
Oct.  22,  1766,  a  lot  of  land  near  the  end  of  the  road  leading 
down  the  north  side  of  Craney  hill ;  but  the  town  took  no  action 
which  resulted  in  the  building  of  the  house  till  March  26, 1770, 
when  they  voted  to  build  a  house  30  feet  long  by  20  feet  wide,  and 
allowed  twenty  dollars  for  the  carrying  of  this  vote  into  effect. 
This  was  the  next  year  after  the  chui-ch  was  organized.  And 
the  committee,  to  whom  was  entrusted  the  work  of  erecting  the 
house,  seem  to  have  proceeded  forthwith  to  a  partial  accomplish- 
ment of  it.  The  walls  were  built  of  logs,  and  while  yet  roofless 
the  people  gathered  here,  under  the  vault  of  heaven,  to  worship 
God  with  a  feeling  somewhat  akin,  we  may  well  imagine,  to  that 
of  the  Psalmist :  "How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of 
hosts." 

The  church  had  already  been  organized.  This  event  occur- 
red June  7,  1769.     The  record  is  as  follows:  "On  the  7th  of 


45 

June,  1769,  a  church  of  Christ  was  embodied  in  the  presence 
and  by  the  direction  of  an  ecclesiastical  council.  The  members 
of  the  church  then  embodied  were  as  follows  :  Jacob  Rice,  pas- 
tor elect ;  Timothy  Ross,  Ezekiel  Smith,  Josiah  Ward,  Ebenez- 
er  Harthorn,  Thomas  Howlet,  William  Pressbury,  Silas  Barns 
and  Charles  Whitcomb." 

The  church  thus  organized  adopted  the  following 

COVENANT. 

"We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  apprehending  our- 
selves hereunto  called,  do  now,  in  the  presence  of  God,  profess 
to  choose  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  our  God  ;  to  fear  him  in  love 
and  serve  him  in  truth  with  all  our  hearts,  giving  up  ourselves 
to  be  his,  and  in  all  things  to  be  at  his  disposal  and  sole  direc- 
tion, that  we  may  hold  communion  with  him  as  members  of  his 
mystical  body,  according  to  his  revealed  will,  to  our  lives'  end. 
We  also  bind  ourselves  to  bring  up  the  children  which  God  has 
graciously,  or  shall  give  us,  in  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  God, 
according  to  our  abilities,  and  in  the  use  of  the  orthodox  cat- 
echisms, that  the  true  religion  may  be  maintained  in  our  fami- 
lies while  we  live,  and  among  those  who  may  live  when  we  are 
dead  and  gone.  We  further  promise  to  keep  close  to  the  truths 
of  Christ,  and  with  affection  in  our  hearts  to  endeavor  to  de- 
fend it  against  all  opposers  as  God  shall  at  any  time  call  us 
thereunto.  And  that  we  may  do  this  we  resolve  to  use  the 
Scriptures  as  our  platform  (whereby  we  may  discern  the  mind 
of  Christ)  and  not  the  new  found  inventions  of  men.  We  also 
engage  to  have  a  careful  inspection  over  our  own  hearts,  and 
endeavor,  by  virtue  of  the  death  of  Christ,  a  mortification  of 
all  our  sinful  frames  and  disorderly  affections  whereby  we  may 
be  drawn  from  the  living  God.  We  moreover  oblige  ourselves 
faithfully  to  improve  our  abilities  and  opportunities  in  wors^hip- 
ing  God  according  to  the  institutions  of  Christ  for  his  church 
under  gospel  administration,  to  give  renewed  attention  to  the 
word  of  God,  pray  to  him  and  sing  his  praise  and  hold  com- 
munion with  him  in  both  the  seals,  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. We  also  promise  that  we  will  peaceably  submit  to  the 
discipline  of  Christ's  church,  obeying  them  who  have  the  rule 
over  us  in  the  Lord.  We  also  bind  ourselves  to  walk  in  fellow- 
ship with  one  another,  as  a  particular  church  of  Christ,  and  in 
love  towards  others,  endeavoring  mutual  edification,  visiting, 
exhorting  and  comforting  as  occasion  serveth,  warning  any 
brother  or  sister  that  offend,  not  divulging  private  offences,  but 
heedfully  following  Christ's  precepts  for  church  dealing  in 
Matthew  18  :  15,,  16,  17,  willingly  forgiving  all  who  manifest  to 


46 

the  judgment  of  charity  that  they  ti-uly  repent  of  all  their  mis- 
carriages." 

From  the  time  the  church  was  organized  till  Oct.  20,  1777 
its  work  is  not  recorded  ;  but  from  that  date  till  Sept.  4,  1795* 
the  records  were  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rice,  at  the  close  of  which 
he  says,  over  his  own  signature,  "The  above  written  is  a  true 
copy  of  the  church  records." 

I  have  searched  the  records  with  all  diligence  and  do  not  find 
any  account  of  additions  to  the  church  during  this  period.  At 
one  church  meeting  the  question  was  raised  whether  a  certain 
man  was  a  member,  which,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  was  decid- 
ed in  the  affirmative ;  and  from  this  time  on  till  1802  no  admis- 
sion is  recorded,  although  certain  persons,  without  naming 
them,  are  said  to  have  been  propounded  for  admission.  And 
there  are  forty-six  names,  in  the  list  of  members,  after  the  organ- 
ization of  the  church  and  previous  to  the  settlement  of  Rev. 
Moses  Sawyer,  in  1802,  none  of  which  appear  upon  the  records 
as  having  been  received,  although  the  names  of  some  of  them 
are  recorded  as  having  been  placed  on  committees  at  various 
times.  A  private  communication  informs  me  that  there  were 
six  females  who  united  with  the  church  at  its  organization, 
whose  names  are  not  certainly  ascertained.  How  the  facts  con- 
cerning these,  or  the  forty-six  referred  to  above,  have  been  as- 
certained, whether  by  tradition  or  from  papers  which  have  not 
fallen  into  my  hands  I  am  not  able  to  say ;  I  think,  however, 
by  tradition. 

We  cannot  just  yet  take  leave  of  that  little  band  of  June  7, 
1769.  For  about  a  year  whatever  meetings  they  had  must  have 
been  held  in  private  houses.  Mr.  Rice,  who  was  installed  as 
their  pastor  the  same  day  on  which  they  were  organized  into  a 
church,  was  with  them,  interested  in  all  that  interested  them. 
They  were  scattered  over  this  territory,  working  hard  and  amid  ' 
many  privations  during  the  week,  and  on  the  Sabbath  day,  with 
no  highways  leading  to  the  place  of  worship,  wending  their  way 
thither  as  best  they  could.  But  at  length  the  day  arrives  when 
the  place  of  public  worship  is  inclosed  with  logs  ;  and,  roofless 
though  it  be,  they  enter  it  with  praise  and  thanksgiving.  Look 
for  a  moment  at  the  spectacle  which  they  present  I     The  light 


47 

of  heaven  shines  not  upon  them  through  stained  windows,  but 
falls  upon  them  unobstructed  from  the  open  skj-  Their  rever- 
end pastor  stands  behind  no  elegantly  wrought  pulpit.  They 
sit  not  in  cushioned  pews.  What  solemn  stillness  pervades  the 
assembly  as  God's  presence  and  blessing  are  invoked  !  With 
what  devotion  and  uplifting  of  soul  they  sing  his  praise  without 
the  help  of  organ  or  quartette  !  With  what  hungering  and 
thirsting  for  the  bread  and  water  o*'  life  do  they  hang  upon  the 
lips  of  their  young  pastor  as  he  unfolds  to  them  the  word  of 
God !  With  what  patience — no,  no,  with  what  gladness  do 
they  sit  upon  these  hard  benches  till  the  close  of  an  all-day  ser- 
vice, and  then,  with  a  benediction,  return  to  their  isolated 
homes !  Let  imagination  fill  out  the  picture  thus  meagrely 
drawn,  for  we  must  not  linger  here. 

With  the  addition  of  a  few  more  dollars  a  roof  was  placed 
upon  this  house,  which  continued  to  be  the  place  of  worship  for 
ten  years,  with  no  glass  windows,  no  heating  apparatus,  except 
such  as  is  brought  in  foot  stoves  from  the  homes  of  the  worship- 
ers ;  absolutely  nothing,  in  the  circumstances,  which  here  and 
now  would  be  tolerated  for  a  single  hour.  And  yet,  through 
cold  and  heat,  tempest  and  calm,  rain  and  snow,  and  two  pro-* 
tracted  services  on  the  Sabbath  day,  the  word  of  the  Lord  had 
free  course  and  was  glorified  in  this  log  sanctuary,  and  perhaps 
no  ten  years  of  the  church's  history  has  had  a  greater  influence 
in  moulding  the  character  of  the  people  of  this  town.  It  was 
in  this  house  that  the  citizens  gathered  during  the  national 
struggle  for  liberty,  and  listened  to  the  patriotic,  soul-stirring, 
courage  inspiring  words  of  their  pastor,  and  from  here  num- 
bers of  them  went  forth  to  the  field  of  strife.  Of  some  it  is 
said  that,  Cineinatus  like,  the  next  morning  after  the  alarm 
from  Lexington,  they  left  their  oxen  in  the  yoke,  or,  unyoking, 
left  them  to  shirk  for  themselves,  and  left  for  the  war.  But 
we  are  in  danger  of  lingering  here  too  long,  for  the  torch  of  an 
incendiary  is  already  kindled,  and  on  the  morning  following  the 
dark  day,  May  20,  1780,  the  ancestors  of  some  here  may  have 
been  heard  to  say,  with  some  qualifications,  "Our  holy  and  our 
beautiful  house,  where  our  fathers  praised  thee,  is  burnt  up 
with  fire,  and  all  our  pleasant  things  are  laid  waste." 


48 

During  the  six  or  seven  years  that  followed,  religious  meet- 
ings were  hel^  in  private  dwellings,  and  the  church,  several 
members  of  which  had  been  in  the  war,  had  become  somewhat 
militant  in  ecclesiastical  matters.  Efforts  were  made  to  secure 
another  place  of  worship,  and  votes  were  passed  by  the  town 
looking  to  the  accomplishment  of  this  object ;  but  the  most  dif- 
ficult question  to  be  settled  was  where  to  locate  the  house.  The 
center  of  the  territory  seems  to  have  been  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  first  church  building  ;  and  there  are  always  some  who  es- 
teem it  almost  a  sacrilege  to  abandon  a  spot  thus  made  sacred. 
Others  preferred  some  other  part  of  the  center  lot.  The  di- 
versity of  opinion  was  so  great  and  unyielding  that  the  matter 
was  referred  to  a  committe  out  of  town,  who  reported  in  favor 
of  the  location  where  the  house  was  afterwards  built.  The 
town  accepted  this  report,  but  afterwards  set  it  aside,  and  ap- 
pealed to  the  Legislature,  then  sitting  at  Exeter,  to  help  them 
out  of  their  trouble  by  the  appointment  of  a  disinterested  com- 
mittee of  three  from  the  neighboring  towns.  The  committee 
was  appointed,  their  decision  accepted,  and  by  the  aid  of  three 
barrels  of  rum,  at  a  cost  of  12£,  5  s.,  1^  ;?.,  the  frame  of  the 
house  now  standing  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  was  raised  in 
the  autumn  of  1786.  It  was  not  till  the  next  spring  that  the 
house  was  enclosed.  Meetings  were  held  in  it  during  this  year, 
but  it  was  not  till  1788  that  the  town  took  measures  to  put  in 
the  pews.  For  a  very  accurate  and  minute  description  of  this 
house  I  must  refer  you  to  the  History  of  Henniker. 

After  Mr.  Eice's  dismission,  and  while  he  continued  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit,  a  period  of  twenty  years,  many  candidates  were 
heard,  and  several  calls  extended  to  men  to  settle  with  them  in 
the  gospel  ministry.  But  there  was  a  lack  of  harmony  between 
the  church  and  town.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  condition 
on  which  the  territory  was  granted  was  that  the  ministry  should 
be  of  the  orthodox  persuasion.  Such  were  the  men  whom  a 
large  portion  of  the  church  desired  to  settle ;  and  the  reason 
why  the  town  did  not  accept  them  is  probably  to  be  found  in  a 
difference  of  views  upon  religious  subjects  between  this  portion 
of  the  church  and  a  majority  of  the  voters  of  the  town. 

Aug.  12,  1801,  the  town  voted  to  settle  Rev.  Moses  Sawyer; 


49 

but  on  the  9th  of  the  following  December  reconsidered  this  vote 
which  led  to  the  formation  of  a  new  society,  called  "The  Cal- 
vinistic  Congregational  Society  of  Henniker."  As  the  mem- 
bers of  this  society  were  in  the  minority  of  the  voters  in  the 
town,  and  so  of  the  owners  of  the  house  of  worship,  by  this  step 
they  sacrificed  their  interest  in  the  house.  The  record  of  this 
transaction  reads  us  follows :  "Considering  that  we  have  long 
been  destitute  of  a  pastor,  that  our  utmost  exertions  to  obtain 
such  a  blessing  have  ever  been  disappointed  by  divisions  in  the 
town,  and  seeing  not  the  least  prospect  that  the  town  of  Henni- 
ker will  ever  settle  a  faithful  minister  of  Christ,  with  any  prom- 
ising harmony  ;  therefore,  Voted,  That  we  feel  ourselves  called 
in  Providence  to  give  up  our  connection  with  said  town,  in  re- 
gard to  a  minister,  and  unite  with  such  other  inhabitants  as  will 
join  with  us,  in  a  Calvinistic  Society  for  the  support  of  public 
worship."  By  this  decisive  vote  the  knot  was  cut  which  held 
the  church  to  a  body  of  men  who  had  no  sympathy  with  them 
on  a  subject  of  the  most  vital  character.  This  took  place  Dec. 
14,  1801.  I  find  no  record  of  any  formal  organization  of  a  Cal- 
vinistic church.  Whether  such  an  organization  was  effected, 
the  record  of  which  is  lost,  or  the  members  thus  leaving  the  old 
church  did  not  consider  a  new  organization  necessary,  I  am  not 
able  to  say.  There  is  a  record  of  the  renewal  of  the  church 
confession  of  faith,  Nov.  11,  1802.  and  this  may  have  been  con- 
sider as  the  origin  of  the  new  organization. 

The  members  of  the  Congregational  Society,  being  a  majority, 
of  course  owned  the  house  of  worship.  But  Dec.  8,  1802,  they 
'■'■  Voted,  That  the  Calvinistic  Society,  so  called,  should  have  the 
liberty  of  going  into  the  meeting-house  on  the  Sabbath  when  the 
town  did  not  wish  for  said  house."  But  as  the  town  occupied 
the  house  whenever  they  had  a  supply  for  the  pulpit,  the  new 
church  was  obliged  to  resort  to  private  houses,  school-houses, 
and  barns  so  often  that  they  decided  to  build  another  house, 
which  they  did,  locating  it  but  a  few  rods  from  where  this  house 
now  stands,  ded-icating  it  in  1805.  Concerning  this  house  1 
find  a  record,  dated  Aug.  23,  1833  :  "This  morning,  between 
three  and  four  o'clock,  the  meeting-house,  which  the  church  had 
occupied  for  public  worship  thirty  years,  was  discovered  on 


50 

fire  ;  and  the  house  with  all  that  was  in  it,  viz.,  Bibles,  testa- 
ments, hymn  books.  Sabbath-school  library,  stoves,  etc.,  was 
consumed,  with  communion  ware."  Now,  for  the  fourth  time, 
there  was  a  houseless  church.  Measures  were  soon  taken,  how- 
ever, to  erect  another  house  of  worship,  and  in  one  year  and 
four  days,  Aug.  27,  1834,  this  house,  in  which  we  are  now  as- 
sembled, echoed  with  glad  anthems  at  the  dedication  service. 
The  tongue  of  the  first  church  bell  in  town,  speaking  in  the 
name  of  heaven,  called  the  people  together  on  this  eventful  and 
interesting  occasion.  The  house  has  been  remodeled  and  im- 
proved at  different  times,  until,  to-day,  through  artistic  skill 
and  much  manual  labor,  in  convenience  and  beauty,  it  is  all 
that  could  be  desired  ;  and  mav  the  kind  providence  which  has 
guarded  it  hitherto  long  preserve  it  to  this  worshiping  congre- 
gation. 

Thus  far  we  have  directed  thought  to  the  gathering  and  hous- 
ing of  the  church.  The  beginning  was  small  and  hedged  about 
with  difficulties.  From  that  time  till  now  often  the  clouds  have 
been  heav\-  and  the  darkness  dense ;  then  light  has  broken  in  to 
inspire  courage  and  give  hope,  so  that  obstacles  have  been  over- 
come, and  prosperity  has  crowned  faithful  effort.  And  to-day, 
on  the  one  hundred  and  fifteenth  anniversary  of  the  gathering  of 
the  church,  contrasting  the  present  with  the  past,  you  come  to- 
gether with  glad  hearts  to  praise  Him  who  has  led  you  hitherto. 

PASTORS. 

But  we  must  not  forget  that  a  Christian  church  needs  some- 
tliing  besides  a  house  in  which  to  worship  God.  History  abund- 
antly confirms  the  truth  of  the  statement,  that  a  church  thuS 
left  would  soon  become  extinct ;  or  at  the  best,  lead  but  a  sickly 
life.  It  has  already  been  said  that  one  of  the  original  members 
of  this  church  was  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  Rev.  Jacob  Rice 
was  hereto  gather  this  church,  and  the  same  council  that  or- 
ganized the  church  consecrated  him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
and  installed  him  as  their  first  pastor.  He  was  a  native  of 
North boro',  Mass.,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College.  He 
devoted  himself  faithfully  to  his  work  for  about  four  years, 
when  a  seve.e  fit  of  sickness  so  impaired  his  health  that  he  was 
ever  afterwards  an  invalid,  and  unable  fully  to  meet  the  de- 


51 

mands  of  his  office.  Some  were  disposed  to  complain  on  this 
account;  and  from  this  time  forward  he  was  much  tried  by 
physical  infirmities  and  the  dissatisfaction  which  existed  among 
his  people.  He  continued  pastor,  however,  till  Feb.  20,  1782, 
when,  by  an  ecclesiastical  council,  he  was  dismissed.  He  contin- 
ued for  about  20  years  occasionally  to  supply  the  pulpit.  He 
seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  positive  theological  views,  which 
he  did  not  fail  to  preach.  Doubtless  in  this,  quite  as  much  as 
in  his  feeble  health,  we  must  find  the  occasion  of  the  opposi- 
tion which  prevailed  somewhat  extensively  in  the  town  against 
him.  He  had  a  kind  and  generous  heart  towards  his  people, 
but  he  also  had  a  heart  loyal  to  Him  who  had  called  him  into 
the  ministry ;  and  we  may  well  suppose  that  he  labored  in  the 
spirit  of  the  apostles  when  they  said  :  "Whether  it  be  right  in 
the  sight  of  God  to  harken  unto  you  more  than  unto  God,  judge 

ye." 

Being  an  educated  and  professional  man,  standing  at  the 
fountain  head  of  the  stream  of  influences  that  spread  over  this 
territory,  we  should  naturally  expect  that  he  would  impress 
himself  largely  upon  the  people.  Accordingly  we  read,  in  ad- 
dition to  his  strictly  religious  work,  that  "to  him  more  than  to 
any  other  one  person  is  the  town  indebted  for  the  school  system 
which  has  been  in  vogue  in  the  town  for  upwards  of  a  century." 
On  leaving  here  Mr.  Rice  removed  to  Brownfield,  Me.,  to  take 
charge  of  a  church,  then  recently  organized,  where  he  died 
Feb.  1,  1824,  at  the  age  of  83  years.  We  are  told  that  two 
weeks  previous  to  this  event  he  walked  six  miles,  preached 
twice  and  walked  home  again  ;  and  that,  on  the  day  of  his 
death,  while  preaching  his  morning  sermon,  he  was  seized  with 
apoplexy,  carried  to  his  house,  where,  at  three  o'clock,  the  mas- 
ter, whom  he  had  served  in  the  ministry  more  than  54  years, 
call  him  to  his  reward. 

Rev.  Moses  Sawyer  was  the  next  pastor  of  this  church.  He 
was  a  native  of  South  Hampton,  N.  H.,  born  March  11,  1776, 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  1798,  where  he  gave  the 
philosophical  oration,  showing  him  to  have  been  one  of  the  first 
scholars  in  his  class.  He  read  theology  with  Rev.  Asa  Burton, 
of  Thetford,  Vt.     He  was  a  fine  classical  scholar,  a  thorough 


52 

and  well  read  divine,  and  a  pions  and  devoted  Christian. 
August  12,  1801,  the  town  voted,  54  to  33,  a  call  to  him  to  set- 
tle with  them  in  the  gospel  ministry.  September  11,  of  the 
same  year,  a  church  meeting  was  held  in  the  school  house,  near 
by,  and  voted  unanimously  to  give  him  this  call.  It  seems 
probable  that  the  members  of  the  church  were  not  all  present. 
December  9,  following,  the  town  held  another  meeting,  more 
fully  attended,  and  reconsidered  the  vote  of  August  12,  declar- 
ing against  his  settlement  by  90  to  66.  It  was  at  this  point 
that  Mr.  Sawyer's  friends  withdrew  and  decided  upon  a  new 
organization  ;  and  December  31,  1801,  at  a  special  meeting,  the 
church  voted  unanimously  to  invite  Mr.  Sawyer  to  become 
their  pastor ;  and  he  was  installed  May  26,  1802.  This  was 
effected  by  an  ecclesiastical  council,  of  which  Rev.  Samuel 
Wood  was  moderator,  and  Rev.  Walter  Harris,  scribe.  The  in- 
stallation services  took  place  in  Mr.  Whitman's  barn,  near  by, 
the  east  scaffold  serving  for  a  pulpit,  from  which  Rev.  mV. 
Worcester  preached  the  sermon.  But  it  was  not  done  without 
an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  town  to  prevent  it,  for  they  delegat- 
ed a  number  of  their  most  influential  citizens  to"  represent  tf) 
the  council  the  feeling  that  existed  in  opposition  to  this  move- 
ment. 

After  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Sawyer,  the  town  made  an  ef- 
fort to  keep  up  their  organization,  but  never  succeeded  in  the 
settlement  of  another  pastor.  They  had  preaching  occasionally, 
but  finally  agreed  to  allow  Mr.  Sawyer  and  his  people  the  use 
of  the  house,  when  it  was  not  otherwise  wanted.  But  when  it 
was  wanted  the  new  congregation  repaired  to  some  school- 
house  or  barn ;  and  wherever  they  went  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord  went  with  them.  They  entered  their  new  house  of  wor- 
ship, as  has  already  been  said,  in  1805.  Many  of  those  who 
were  opposed  to  Mr.  Sawyer,  were  gradually' won  to  his  sup- 
port by  his  impartial  treatment.  Christian  courtesy,  exemplary 
life,  and  honest  presentation  of  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  as  he 
understood  them.  He  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  March 
29,  1826,  and  April  9,  preached  a  farewell  sermon  from  the 
text :  ''For  we  are  laborers  together  with  God."  It  must  have 
been  in  the  spirit  of  these  words  that  he  labored  so  successfully 


53 

in  harmonizing  tlie  conflicting  elements  which  he  found  here  at 
the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  and  held  his  position  for  the 
space  of  nearly  twenty-four  years,  the  longest  pastorate  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  "He  was  a  laborous  student  always 
bringing  beaten  oil  into  the  sanctuary.  He  aimed  to  explain 
to  the  people  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  He  lived  and 
acted,  prayed  and  preached,  apparently  with  the  sacredness  of 
his  office  in  view,  and  with  an  ardent  love  of  souls  in  his  heart. 
It  was  never  said  that,  in  all  his  intercourse  with  his  people,  he 
ever  uttered  a  saying,  or  did  an  act,  that  had  a  tendancy  to 
bring  reproach  on  the  ministry.  He  was  fearless  in  his  defense 
of  the  truth,  and  yet  all  his  conduct  was  marked  with  prudence. 
The  cause  of  God  prospered  under  his  ministry."  His  dismis- 
sion from  this  place  gave  his  nervous  system  a  "shock  from 
which  he  never  recovered.  After  leaving  here  he  preached  m 
vSearborough,  Me.,  in  Gloucester  and  Saugus,  Mass.,  and  died 
in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  of  paralysis,  Aug.  26,  1847,  aged  71,  hav- 
ing been  in  the  ministry  forty-five  years. 

Rev.  Jacob  Scales  was  the  third  pastor  of  this  church.  It 
appears  from  the  history  of  the  town  that  his  father,  also  a 
minister,  as  early  as  1760,  resided  in  this  town  for  a  few  months 
and  built  the  first  log  cabin  erected  in  the  territory.  He  was 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Hopkinton,  although  he  preached  here 
occasionally.  Jacob  was  born  in  Freeport,  Me.,  March  7,  1788. 
August  27,  1817,  he  delivered  the  Latin  salutatoi-y  oration  on 
the  occasion  of  his  graduation  at  Dartmouth  College,  which 
shows  the  high  rank  of  his  scholarship.  Three  years  later  he 
finished  his  theological  course  at  Andover,  and  at  once  became 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Colchester,  Ct.,  where 
he  labored  till  he  received  a  call  from  this  church,  which  was 
voted  him  Dec.  11,  1826.  A  few  years  previous  to  this,  for 
some  reason,  there  had  been  formed  in  town  a  new  religious 
society,  by  members  seceding  from  the  Calvinistic  Societ}^  and 
calling  themselves  the  Congregational  Society.  After  some  ef- 
forts to  maintain  preaching  they  united  with  this  church  and 
religious  society  in  extending  a  call  to  Mr.  Scales,  and  he  was 
installed  here  Jan.  17,  1827,  and  dismissed  March  1,  1839. 
Rev.  Dr.  Justin    Edwards,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  preached  the 


54 

installation  sermon,  it  is  said  with  woollen  mittens  on  his  hands. 
Doubtless  he  kept  himself  comfortable  while  the  large  congre- 
gation shivered  in  their  seats.  O  the  blessing  of  the  modern 
heating  apparatus,  if  there  is  not  too  much  of  it,  and  provided 
always  that  the  pure  air  of  heaven  be  not  shut  out !  Mr. 
Scales'  ministry  here  was  remarkably  successful,  measuring  it 
by  the  accessions  to  the  church.  224  were  received  during  his 
ministry.  He  was  a  man  of  positive  views,  and  had  a  positive 
way  of  expressing  them.  Such  a  man  would  natually  have 
positive  friends  and,  very  possibly,  positive  enemies.  There 
seems  to  have  sprung  up  a  division  among  the  people,  causing 
no  little  unpleasantness  among  themselves,  and  leading  eventu- 
ally to  his  dismission,  after  a  pastorate  of  a  little  more  than 
twelve  years.  After  leaving  here  he  was  settle  over  the  church 
at  Plaiufield,  remaining  there  till  his  death,  Oct.  16,  1873,  aged 
85.  Four  da3-s  previous  to  this  while  in  the  pulpit  he  was  tak- 
en suddenly  ill,  carried  to  his  home,  and  died  the  Thursday  fol- 
lowing. In  a  little  more  than  two  years  from  the  dismission  of 
Mr.  Scales,  with  great  unanimity  the  church  extended  seven  calls 
to  as  many  men  to  settle  with  them  in  the  ministry,  all  but  the 
last  of  which  were  declined.  It  would  appear  from  such  a  rec- 
ord that  a  great  degree  of  harmony  had  been  restored  among 
the  members  of  the  church. 

The  seventh  call,  unanimous,  given  July  12,  1841,  invited 
Eden  B.  Foster  to  the  pastorate,  which  he  accepted,  and  Aug. 
18,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the  church.  The  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  his  uncle,  Rev.  Amos  Foster,  of  Putney, 
Vt.  Mr.  Foster  was  dismissed  Jan.  7,  1847..  This  was  done 
after  an  ineffectual  effort  to  retain  him.  The  feeling  of  the 
church  in  view  of  his  leaving  is  best  expressed  in  their  own 
language  :  ''■Resolved^  that  we  exceedingly  regret  that  our  be- 
loved pastor,  Rev.  E.  B.  Foster,  should  feel  it  his  duty  to  ask 
a  dismission  from  this  church  ;  and  that  it  will  be  almost  an  ir- 
reparable loss  ;  but  after  much  prayer  and  meditation,  we  feel 
it  our  duty  to  grant  it."  The  dismissing  council  say,  "that 
the  principal  reasons  for  his  request  were  protracted  ill-health 
and  pecuniary  embarrassment.  The  council  rejoice  that  noth- 
ing exists,  or  has  at  any  time  existed,  to  interrupt  the  harmony 
and  tenderness  between  the  parties  here  concerned." 


65 

Mr.  Foster  was  born  in  Hanover,  N.  H.,  May  26,  1813,  the 
eldest  of  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  were  sons.  Seven  of 
these  received  a  college  education,  six  of  whom  entered  the 
ministry.  He  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College,  having  pur- 
sued his  studies  there  amid  many  difficulties,  among  which  were 
sickness  and  lack  of  funds.  The  latter,  may  have  been  the 
cause  of  the  former.  In  his  effort  not  to  be  burdened  with  a 
troublesome  debt  he  boax'ded  himself,  living  on  the  most  mengre 
fare.  His  own  testimony  is  "it  is  my  firm  belief  that  if  I  had 
never  boarded  myself  an  hour,  I  should  have  gained  ten  years 
of  life  which  have  now  been  lost  through  ill- health  and  des- 
pondency." In  this  way  his  studies  were  interrupted  to  such 
an  extent  that  his  standing  in  his  class  was  far  from  being  sat- 
isfactory to  himself.  This  was  the  judgment  of  a  despeptic. 
In  some  branches  of  study  some  of  his  classmates  undoubtedly 
did  excel  him,  but  surely  not  in  all.  A  classmate  and  most  in- 
timate friend,  Hon.  James  Barrett,  of  Rutland,  Vt.,  writes  thus 
of  him.  The  day  of  his  graduation  was  very  warm.  "Foster's 
part  came  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  session.  The 
house  was  densely  crowded  with  a  sweltering,  tired,  uneasy  and 
noisy  audience.  Little  or  no  attention  had  been  accorded  to 
several  preceding  speakers,  their  voices  even  being  mainly  in- 
audible on  account  of  the  noise,  almost  hubbub,  throughout  the 
house.  Foster  was  announced.  He  advanced  from  the  side 
entrance  towards  the  center  of  the  stage,  tall  and  finely  pro- 
portioned in  figure,  dignified  and  graceful  in  bearing,  solemn 
and  impressive  in  countenance,  wearing  the  silk  robe  of  those 
days.  As  he  appeared,  and  was  advancing,  a  hush  in  the  con- 
fusion was  obvious,  which  increased  as  he  approached  and 
bowed  to  the  president,  and  still  more  increased  as  he  turned 
and  bowed  to  the  audience.  His  theme  was  'The  Eloquence  of 
Expiring  Nations'.  His  first  sentence  was  'Death,  himself,  is 
eloquent.'  When  he  had  uttered  it.  with  his  deep,  rich  and 
commanding  voice,  with  a  countenance  and  bearing  that  helped 
to  the  subduing  effect,  every  sound  but  the  voice  of  the  speaker 
was  hushed  to  the  silence,  as  it  were,  of  death  itself,  and  that 
silence  continued  till  he  had  disappeared  from  the  stage,  and 
still  continued  till  the  next  speaker  was  called."     The  same 


56 

writer  continues :  "In  all  my  now  long  life,  in  almost  annual 
attendance  on  commencements  of  colleges,  in  more  than  forty 
years  in  courts  as  lawyer  and  judge,  in  the  mean  time  an  at- 
tendant on  sermons,  lectures,  platform  and  stump  speeches,  ut- 
tered by  all  grades,  from  the  highest  downward,  I  have  never 
witnessed  such  an  overmastering  effect  produced  by  a  speaker 
upon  his  audience."  Rufus  Choate  pronounced  it  the  most  elo- 
quent performance  of  the  kind  that  he  ever  heard. 

After  a  year  and  a  half  at  Andover  Seminary,  in  Jan.  1840, 
his  health  again  broke  down,  and  here  ended  his  theological 
studies  preparatory  for  his  future  work.  After  teaching  for 
a  time  he  began  his  life  work  of  about  forty  years  in  the  minis- 
try with  this  church.  What  has  already  been  said  shows  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  here,  and  the  deep  and  unfeigned 
regret  felt  by  his  people  at  the  necessity  of  his  leaving  them. 
After  leaving  this  place  he  had  four  pastorates  :  one  of  four  and 
a  half  years  at  Pelham,  this  state ;  one  over  the  John  Street 
church,  Lowell,  Mass.,  of  eight  and  a  half  years  ;  one  at  West 
Springfield,  Mass.,  of  four  and  a  half  years,  and  a  second  time 
at  Lowell,  John  Street,  of  sixteen  years,  where  he  died  April 
11,  1882.  at  the  aged  of  nearly  69  years. 

Measured  by  years  his  life  was  not  long,  but  by  the  work 
accomplished,  longer  than  that  of  most  men  who  die  of  old  age. 
No  one  acquainted  with  his  habits  of  study,  or  listening  to  his 
fervid  utterances,  could  reasonably  anticipate  aught  else  but 
that  his  vital  forces  would  burn  out,  consuming  the  body  while 
yet  the  mind  was  like  the  fiery  stead,  ready  for  the  race  course, 
but  held  in  by  bit  and  bridle.  O  how  delightful  to  linger  the 
entire  hour  upon  the  character  of  such  a  man  ! 

Rev.  Richard  T.  Searl  was  installed  the  fifth  pastor  of  the 
church,  Dec.  1,  1847,  and  dismissed  March  20,  1850.  His  par- 
ents resided  in  this  town  from  1820  to  1827.  The  date  and 
place  of  Richard's  birth,  I  am  not  able  to  give,  but  probably  he 
was  born  in  New  Rowley,  Mass.,  and  not  long  before  his  parents 
removed  to  this  town,  so  that  his  childhood  must  have  been 
spent  on  the  north  side  of  Craney  Hill.  He  graduated  at 
Union  College,  Schenedtady,  N.  Y.,  in  1832,  and  at  Andover 
Theological  Seminary  in  1841,  where  he  was  a  resident  licen- 


57 

tiate  some  years,  preaching  as  he  had  opportunity.  He  was  or- 
dained at  Middleton,  Mass.,  where  he  had  a  pastorate  of  about 
two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  was  called  to  this  church.  After 
leaving  here  he  labored  with  the  churches  in  Marblehead 
and  New  Marlboro',  Mass.,  Harwinton  and  Thomaston  Conn., 
Liverpool,  N.  Y.,  Thetford  and  Windsor,  Vt.  He  died  at 
Danvers,  Mass.,  in  1878,  his  age  being  not  far  from  sixty 
years.  My  acquaintance  with  him  began  on  entering  the 
Theological  Seminary,  in  1841.  My  impression  of  him  is  that 
he  was  an  able  sermonizer,  unwilling  to  lay  by  his  manuscript 
till  he  had  done  his  utmost  to  make  it  a  finished  production. 
This  may  have  been  one  cause  of  his  frequent  removals.  The 
sermon  at  his  installation  in  this  place  was  preached  by  Rev. 
Daniel  J.  Noyes,  of  the  South  church,  in  Concord. 

February  26,  1851,  Rev^j^^  M-  R-  Eaton  was  installed  the  ^ 
sicBiA  pastor  of  the  church.  He  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Mass., 
October  15,  1814,  graduated  at  Amherst  College  1841,  and  at 
the  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  1844.  He  went  at  once  to 
Clintonville,  Mass.,  where  he  was  ordained  Janua^-y  9,  1845. 
Leaving  there  in  1847,  he  was  pastor  of  the  chui*ch  in  Shirley 
three  years.  He  commenced  preaching  in  this  place  November 
3,  1850,  was  installed  February  26,  1851,  Rev.  E.  W.  BuUard 
of  Fitchburg,  preaching  the  sermon  ;  and  was  dismissed  June  2, 
1868,  a  pastorate  of  between  seventeen  and  eighteen  years, 
being  longer  than  that  of  any  other  except  thut  of  Mr.  Sawyer. 
His  health  was  so  much  impaired  that  he  was  unable  for  a  time 
to  take  charge  of  another  parish.  After  this,  for  about  seven 
years,  he  supplied  the  church  in  Medfield,  Mass.,  leaving  there 
July,  1876,  and  is  now  residing  in  Fitchburg.  During  his  pas- 
torate here  88  names  were  added  to  the  church  roll,  only  one  of 
which  was  stricken  off  by  excommunicaction.  During  the  same 
period  67  names  were  underscored,  showing  that  they  had  pass- 
ed from  the  earthly  to  the  heavenly  life.  The  pastor  was 
called  to  sit  in  twenty-six  councils.  He  administered  the  rite 
of  baptism  sixty-two  times  ;  attended  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  funerals  of  persons  who  died  in  town,  besides  a  large 
number  of  those  who  were  brought  here  for  burial,  and  a  very 
large  number  in  the  neighboring  towns.     He  solemnized  uinty- 


58 

eight  marriages  ;  delivered  about  fifteen  hundred  sermons,  be- 
sides speaking  at  conference  meetings  from  one  to  six  times  a 
week.  He  put  upon  record  his  greatful  remembrance  of  your 
invaluable  cooperation  in  the  social  religious  meetings ;  your 
promptness  in  meeting  all  pecuniary  obligations  ;  and  your  un- 
ceasing kindness  to  himself  and  family.  On  resigning  his  place 
here  the  church  invited  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation,  which 
request  however  was  not  granted.  When  assembled,  "The 
council  advise  that,  in  view  of  the  enfeebled  health  of  Mr.  Eaton 
and  his  absolute  need  of  rest  and  freedom  from  responsibility, 
the  pastoral  relation  be  dissolved.  While  reaching  this  result, 
we  desire  to  express  our  deepest  regret  at  the  departure  from 
among  us  of  a  brother  who  commands  in  so  eminent  a  degree 
our  confidence,  respect  and  affection  ;  and  who  has  so  unwea. 
riedly  and  successfully  labored  for  the  good  of  those  committed 
to  his  care.  For  the  church  we  can  express  no  better  wish  than 
that  they  ma^  receive  another  pastor  who  will  labor  as  affection- 
ately and  wisely  for  their  good  as  he  who  has  for  seventeen 
years  past^served  them." 

Sept.  1,  1870,  Rev.  S.  S.  Morrill  was  installed  the  seventh 
pastor,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  F.  D.  Ayer,  of  Con- 
cord. Aug.  18,  1873,  at  his  own  request,  because  of  impaired 
health,  he  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate.  He  was  born  at 
Danville,  Vt.,  Dec.  24,  1832.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
college  in  1855,  and  studied  theology  at  Andover  and  Chicago, 
graduating  in  1859.  May  12.  1859,  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Maiden,  111. 
During  the  civil  war  he  was  hospital  chaplain  at  Mound  City, 
111.,  where  he  lost  his  health  which  he  never  fully  recovered. 
Returning  East  he  preached  some  time  at  Hillsboro'  Bridge, 
from  which  place  he  came  to  Henniker.  After  leaving  here  he 
had  a  short  pastorate  at  Harvard,  Mass.,  but  was  obliged  to 
leave  on  account  of  his  health.  In  1877  he  removed  to  Am- 
herst, Mass.,  to  educate  his  children;  but  the  next  year,  his 
health  still  failing,  he  went  to  his  native  place  in  Vermont  where 
he  died  May  2,  1878,  at  the  aged  of  45  years.  He  possessed  a 
strong  intellect  and  good  executive  ability,  but  labored  under 
the  disadvantage  of  poor  health  during  most  of  his  public  min- 
istry. 


59 

Nov.  21,  1873,  the  church  authorized  their  executive  com- 
mittee to  secure  the  services  of  Rev.  George  H.  Morss,  with  the 
expectation  of  settling  him  as  their  pastor.  Mr.  Morss  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  nearly  three  years,  but  was  not  installed  over 
the  church. 

Rev.  John  H.  Hoffman,  the  eighth  and  present  pastor,  was 
born  in  Lyndon,  Vt.,  June  10,  1847,  graduated  at  Bates  Col- 
lege, Me.,  1874,  and  at  Bangor  Theological  Seminary  in  1877. 
He  was  ordained  in  this  place  Aug.  21,  1877,  Prof.  William  M. 
Barber  of  Bangor  preaching  the  sermon.  He  was  installed  as 
pastor  June  7,  1878,  Rev.  C.  A.  Stone,  of  Hopkinton,  preach- 
ing the  sermon. 

It  will  be  proper  here  to  speak  of  those  who  have  been  mem- 
bei's  of  this  church,  and  became  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

Jacob  C.  Goss  was  born  June  4,  1794.  He  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  College  in  1820  and  at  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary  three  years  later.  His  first  year  in  the  ministry  was 
spent  in  the  employ  of  the  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.  In  1824  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  church  at  Topsham,  Me.,  serving  them 
seven  years.  In  1835  he  was  installed  over  the  church  in  San- 
ford,  Me.,  where  he  remained  till  1843  and  then  was  dismissed 
at  his  own  request.  In  1850  he  was  settled  over  the  church  in 
Wells,  Me.  Retiring  from  this  field  of  labor,  because  of  im- 
paired health,  he  removed  to  Concord,  N.  H.,  in  1853,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  22,  1860, 
During  these  years  of  his  residence  at  Concord  he  supplied  pul- 
pits occasionally,  laboring,  for  some  time  at  Randolph  Centre 
Vt.  Twelve  days  before  his  death  he  occupied  the  pulpit  at 
Fisherville,  where  he  took  a  violent  cold  which  resulted  fatally. 
Mr.  Goss  possessed  a  strong  mind  which  was  thoroughly  dis- 
ciplined. His  theological  views  were  eminently  scriptural.  His 
method  of  presenting  truth  was  unambiguous.  His  hearers 
knew  what  he  believed  and  why  he  believed  it.  A  "Thus  saith 
the  Lord"  had  greater  weight  with  him  than  the  wisest  sayings 
of  uninspired  authors. 

Parker  Pillsbury  was  born  Sept.  22,  1809.  Without  obtain- 
ing a  collegiate  education,  he  devoted  four  years  to  the  study 


60 

of  theology,  tlie  fourth  year  at  Andover;  and  having  been  li- 
censed to  preach  the  gospel  he  was  engaged  to  supply  the 
pulpit  at  Loudon,  N.  H.,  for  one  year.  About  this  time  the 
cruelties  of  the  system  of  slavery  began  more  especially  to  be 
manifest  in  the  mobs  and  murders  of  those  who  had  the  cour- 
age to  rebuke  them.  In  1840  Mr.  Pillsbury  turned  aside  from 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  devoted  his  pen  and  tongue  to 
the  not  difficult  task  of  proving  slavery  to  be  the  "sum  of  all 
villanies,"  but  the  most  difficult  work  of  wiping  it  out.  In  it, 
however,  he  never  faltered,  till  by  the  pen  of  the  President  and 
the  sword  of  the  nation  death  came  to  the  system,  and  life  to 
its  subjects.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Pillsbury  has  devoted  his 
great  powers  of  intellect  and  utterance  to  the  work  of  political 
and  other  reforms. 

Augustus  Berry  was  born  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  Oct.  7,  1824. 
He  graduated,  with  high  honors,  at  Amherst  College  in  1851. 
During  nine  years  from  this  date  he  was  engaged  in  teaching. 
Five  years  he  was  principal  of  Appleton  Academy  at  Mont 
Vernon,  N  H.  As  a  teacher  he  was  eminently  successful. 
Having  finished  his  theological  studies  at  Andover  in  1861.  he 
became  pastor,  the  same  year,  Oct.  30,  of  the  Congregational 
church  at  Pelham,  N.  H.,  where  he  still  resides.  An  able, 
earnest,  faithful  preacher,  beloved  by  all  who  know  him. 

Addison  Childs  was  born  in  Henniker,  Oct.  16,  1821.  At 
the  age  of  15,  he  united  with  the  Congregational  church  in  that 
town.  His  intellectual  faculties  developed  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree while  he  was  yet  very  young.  He  was  a  leader  in  debate 
among  his  school-mates.  It  is  the  testimony  of  one  whose  ob- 
servation is  broad,  and  whose  renown  is  national,  that,  within 
the  circle  of  his  acquaintance,  the  native  intellect  of  Mr. 
Childs  had  no  superior.  When  yet  scarcely  20  years  old  he 
took  charge  of  a  Methodist  academy  in  Provincetown,  Mass., 
and  soon  united  with  the  Methodist  church  in  that  place.  Dur- 
ing his  two  years  of  teaching  he  studied  with  a  view  to  the  gospel 
ministry,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1842.  His  ministry 
was  brief  and  interrupted  by  ill  health.  He  labored  in  Dux- 
bury,  Hyannis  and  North  Bridgewater.  Full  of  zeal  and  holy 
ambition  he  devoted  his  young  manhood  to  his  chosen  work. 


61 

determined  to  know  nothing  among  his  people  but  Jesus  Christ 
and  him  crucified.  He  died  Nov.  5,  1844,  in  the  twenty-third 
year  of  his  age,  and  the  third  of  his  ministry,  greatly  lamented 
by  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  by  a  large  circle  of  devoted 
and  admiring  friends.  Full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  for 
him  to  live  was  Christ,  and  to  die,  gain. 

Nathan  Franklin  Carter  was  born  in  Henniker,  Jan.  6,  1830. 
He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1853,  taking  a  high  stand 
among  his  class-mates.  For  eleven  years  after  his  graduation 
he  devoted  himself,  with  great  fidelity,  to  the  work  of  teaching, 
being  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Exeter  nine  years.  Seven 
years  previous  to  closing  his  laboi's  here  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel ;  and  as  health  and  time  permitted,  occupied 
vacant  pulpits  in  the  neighborhood.  He  studied  theology  at 
the  seminary  in  Bangor,  Me.,  graduating  in  1865.  After  sup- 
plying the  pulpit  for  one  year  in  Pembroke,  he  preached  at 
North  Yarmouth,  Me.,  two  years,  where  he  was  ordained  Dec. 
19,  1867,  His  labors  were  greatly  blessed,  resulting  in  an  ac- 
cession to  the  church  of  forty-four  members,  thirty- four  at  one 
time.  At  his  own  request  he  was  dismissed  April  1,  1869, 
and  in  the  following  August  removed  to  Orfordville,  N.  H., 
where  he  received  to  the  church  eighty-four,  forty-eight  at  one 
time.  After  leaving  Orfordville  he  preached  at  Bellows  Falls, 
Vt.,  and  received  to  the  church  seventy,  thirty-seven  at  one 
time.  Of  these  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  came  into  the  churches  on  confession  of  their 
faith.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Quechee,  Vt.,  where  he  still 
lives.  Here  he  has  received,  by  confession,  nineteen  members. 
This  record  justifies  the  remark  that  Mr.  Carter  has  devoted 
himself,  with  great  fidelity  and  earnestness,  to  the  work  of 
preaching  the  gospel.  While  he  rejoices  in  the  fruit  of  his  la- 
bor, he  gives  to  God  all  the  glory. 

It  may  be  added  here  that  Mr.  Carter  is  the  inventor  of  the 
"'Rotary  Library  Reference  Table,"  an  ornamental  and  useful 
piece  of  furniture  for  the  office  or  study  of  professional  men. 

DEACONS. 

Ebenezer  Harthorn  and  William  Presbury  were  elected  dea- 
cons at  the  organization  of  the  church.  They  both  died  in 
1814,  having  served  the  church  forty-five  years. 


62 

In  July,  1802,  David  Olongh  and  Daniel  Rice  were  elected. 
The  former  died  in  1819  and  the  latter  in  1821,  having  served 
in  their  office  about  sixteen  and  one  half  and  eighteen  and  one 
half  years. 

July,  1817,  William  C.  Woodbury  and  George  Connor  were 
elected,  and  served,  the  former  till  1822,  and  the  latter  till  1830. 

In  1822  Nathaniel  Cogswell  was  appointed  to  the  office  and 
died  in  office  in  1836. 

Josiah  Childs  and  Oliver  Pillsbury  were  chosen  in  1831.  The 
former  held  the  office  thirty-one  years,  falling  asleep  in  1863, 
and  the  latter  twenty-five  years,  dying  in  1857.  Most  of  these 
were  relieved  of  the  active  duties  of  the  office  some  time  before 
they  died. 

Horace  Childs  and  Worcester  Hathorn  were  elected  in  1855- 
Dea.  Hathorn  died  in  1880.  I  find  this  minute  against  his 
name:  "No  ordinary  Christian,  forty-eight  years  a  member, 
twenty-five  years  deacon."  "The  righteous  shall  be  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance."  Concerning  the  character  and  work  of 
the  last  four  of  these  beloved  brethren  it  would  afford  me  much 
l)leasure  to  enlarge  ;  men  of  sterling  worth,  godly  men,  helpers 
together  with  one  another,  with  their  pastors,  with  the  church, 
true  standard  bearers,  filling  the  office  of  a  deacon  well.  All 
but  one  have  passed  to  their  reward ;  of  the  one  may  it  long  be 
said,  he  liveth,  a  pillar  in  the  church,  a  bright  and  shining  light. 

In  1883  S.  Q.  A.  Newton,  Levi  S.  Connor  and  S.  W.  Carter 
were  constituted  deacons. 

Thus  far  the  church  is  organized,  housed  and  officered. 
But  the  church  itself  does  not  yet  stand  before  us. 
O  for  the  gift  to  present  the  thing  of  life  that  it  has  been  in  this 
community.  Let  imagination  picture  a  community  as  large  as 
this,  for  as  long  a  time,  and  without  a  church  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  lay  it  down  by  the  side  of  this,  and  then  study  the 
contrasts.  Civil  government  has  done  something,  education 
much  ;  and  yet  the  contrast  remains.  But  neither  government 
nor  schools  would  have  been  what  they  have  been,  had  there 
been  no  church.  Let  us  then,  as  briefly  as  possibly,  sketch 
the  work  of  the  church. 

The  church  has  been  Congregational  in  its  polity,  from  the 


63 

beginning.  At  its  organization  it  entered  into  a  solemn  cov- 
enant one  with  another.  It  adopted  the  Scriptures  as  its 
rule  of  faith  and  practice,  without  formulating  them  into  a 
brief  and  definite  creed.  Yet  the  doctrines  usually  found  in  the 
creeds  of  evangelical  churches  were  doubtless  preached  here 
from  the  first,  and  generally  accepted  by  the  members  of  the 
church.  I  say  generally^  for  it  is  quite  probalile  that  some  had 
come  into  the  church  without  even  professing  to  have  become 
Christians,  for  the  sake  of  having  their  children  baptized.  In 
the  early  history  of  New  Hampshire  churches,  what  is  called 
the  Half-way  Covenant,  was  somewhat  extensively  adopted. 
According  to  its  principles,  those  who  wished  to  have  their 
children  baptized,  could  be  received  as  members,  but  not  to  all 
the  privileges  of  the  church.  They  were  bebarred  from  the 
communion  table.  It  appears  from  the  records  that  this  church 
adopted  this  method  of  receiving  members.  October  15, 1795, 
a  council  was  convened  here  for  the  purpose  of  advising  in  a 
case  of  discipline,  and  the  church  requested  their  advise  respect- 
ing the  propriety  of  using  the  half-way  covenant.  In  the  fol- 
lowing January  the  church  "voted  that,  from  this  time  forward, 
no  persons  shall  be  received  into  this  church  upon  the  Half- 
way covenant ;  but,  that  those  who  shall  hereafter  be  admitted, 
shall  come  to  full  communion."  While  this  would  not  weed  out 
such  as  had  already  been  admitted,  it  would  tend  to  keep  out, 
in  the  future,  unworthy  members.  This  step  was  doubtless 
seen  to  be  necessary  in  the  practical  workings  of  the  church. 
But  little  spiritual  prosperity  had  been  enjoyed.  During  the 
first  third  of  a  century,  or  down  to  the  time  of  Mr.  Sawyer's 
settlement,  only  fifty-five  persons  are  known  to  have  belonged 
to  the  church  ;  and  how  many  of  these  came  in  on  the  Half- 
way covenant  system  is  not  known.  During  the  first  year  of 
Mr.  Sawyer's  ministry  the  church  formulated  their  religious  be- 
lief into  eighteen  articles,  which  continued  to  be  read  on  the 
admission  of  members  during  another  third  of  a  century,  or  un- 
til 1835.  At  this  date,  and  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Scales, 
a  revision  of  this  creed,  and  without  much  alteration,  was 
adopted,  and  at  the  same  time,  the  covenant  renewed.  Thirty- 
seven  years  later,  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Morrill,  the  church 


64 

voted  to  adopt  a  revised  manuel.  During  all  these  years  es- 
sentially the  same  religious  views  have  been  preached  and 
believed. 

The  records  show  abundant  evidence  of  a  constant  effort  not 
only  to  preserve  their  ancient  faith  undiluted,  but  also  to  watch 
over  the  morals  of  its  members.  In  the  early  years  many 
Complaints  were  made  of  persons  walking  disorderly  ;  and  such 
cases  were  followed  up  till  a  satisfaction  was  obtained.  Many 
times  delinquents  confessed  their  faults  ;  sometimes,  persisting 
in  a  course  judged  wrong  by  the  church,  they  were  cut  off  from 
its  privileges.  Intemperance  was  often  the  cause  of  discipline, 
intoxicating  drinks  being  everywhere  in  use.  The  fellowship 
of  the  church  has  been  withdrawn  from  forty-one  of  its  mem- 
bers. The  records  afford  abundant  proof  that  very  much  labor 
was  bestowed  in  nearly  all  these  cases  to  secure  compliance  with 
covenant  vows ;  and  in  most  cases  names  were  dropped,  not 
because  of  any  immorality  in  the  life,  but  because  members  had 
taken  themselves  away  from  the  fellowship  of  their  brethren. 

The  work  of  the  church  would  not  be  fairly  represented  with- 
out some  notice  of  its  efforts  in  the  temperance  reform.  Intoxi- 
cants were  freely  used  a  century  ago.  We  have  already  learn- 
ed that  it  took  three  barrels  of  rum  to  raise  the  frame  of  the 
meeting  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  The  thought  is 
too  deep  for  us,  the  back-look  too  dark,  to  undertake  to  solve 
the  problem,  how  much  was  required  to  finish  and  dedicate  it. 
There  must  have  been  a  reformation,  at  least  in  the  case  of 
some  of  the  workmen,  before  the  next  house  was  built,  as  we 
are  told  that  one  of  them,  standing  upon  one  foot  on  a  gilded 
ball,  raised  six  feet  above  the  bell  deck,  turned  himself  com- 
pletely round,  demonstrating  to  the  crowd  below  that  his  head 
was  steady  and  his  nerve  strong.  Coming  down  to  the  time  of 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Scales,  we  find  this  additional  testimony. 
The  council  that  settled  him,  on  the  day  previous  to  the  event, 
passed  the  following  resolution:  "Whereas,  intoxicating  li- 
quors have  in  several  cases  been  dispensed  with  at  the  enter- 
tainment of  ecclesiastical  councils,  and  it  is  understood  that  the 
committee  of  arrangements  in  this  place  intend  to  pursue  a 
similar  course,"— all   honor   to  the   committee— "this  council 


65 

would  express  their  cordial  approbation  of  it,  and  their  earnest 
desire  that  as  laudable  a  practice  may  become  universal."  Ail 
honor  to  the  council !  It  will  be  remembered  that  Dr.  Edwards, 
the  apostle  of  temperance,  was  a  member  of  this  council,  and 
his  "woolen  mittens"  were  a  good  substitute  for  the  accustomed 
stimulant.  This  was  in  1827.  "Who  were  these  men  that  so 
nobly  stood  forth  in  favor  of  reform,  this  committee  of  arrange- 
ments ?  We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  answer  the  inquiry :  Dea. 
Nathaniel  Cogswell,  Josiah  Childs,  Oliver  Pillsbury,  Steven 
Searle  and  Jacob  Peters.  We  should  naturally  expect  that  a 
work  thus  inaugurated  would  go  forward,  and  so  it  did  ;  for 
eight  years  later  the  church  "solemnly  and  explicitly  entered 
into  covenant  j_with  God,  and  with  one  another,"  that  they 
would  abstain  "from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  as  a  drink.'' 
This  language  may  seem  tame  in  this  day  of  pledges  to  abstain 
from  everything  that  can  intoxicate.  But  it  may  be  that  the 
former  pledge  required  greater  self-denial  at  that  time  than  the 
latter  at  the  present  time.  It  requires  no  stretch  of  charity  to 
hope  that  the  church  of  to-day  is  a  unit  on  this  vital  subject  of 
temperance. 

The  church  also  has  a  history  on  the  slavery  question.  As 
early  as  1841  the  subject  was  brought  prominently  before  them  ; 
and  the  next  year  they  adopted  resolutions  embodying  their 
views.  At  a  meeting  of  churches  in  Concord  in  1843  Mr.  Fos- 
ter reports:  "The  injured  slave  has  not  been  forgotton.  A 
monthly  concert  of  prayer  for  his  deliverance,  and  for  the  de- 
liverance of  the  country  from  the  awful  sin  of  oppression,  has 
been  instituted,  and  attended  by  increasing  numbers,  and  with 
augmented  solicitude  and  fervency."  But  on  this  subject 
there  was  not  perfect  unanimity.  While  all  would  gladly  have 
seen  the  shackles  of  the  slave  broken,  some  would  have  it  done 
In  one  way  and  some  in  another.  The  sixth  pastor  remembers 
well  the  diversity  of  opinion  and  of  feeling  prevaling  among  the 
members  of  the  church,  and  his  own  possibly  too  hopeful 
method  of  securing  perfect  harmony  by  preaching  from 
the  text :  "I  hear  that  there  be  divisions  among  you  ;  and 
I  partly  ^believe  it."  But  be  this  as  it  may,  I  think  I  never 
knew  a  church  more  harmonious  than  this  became  upon  this 


66 

subject.  Occasionally  a  ripple  would  appear  which  might  easi- 
ly have  resulted  in  disaster,  had  not  a  merciful  providence 
watched  over  us.  The  pastor  was  told  that  the  church  had  de- 
cided that  no  slaveholder  would  be  permitted  to  occupy  the  pul- 
pit, and  ordered  his  course  accordingly.  On  one  occasion 
such  a  man  appeared  in  the  congregation,  but  of  course  was  not 
invited  into  the  pulpit.  One  dear  brother  felt  grieved  by  this, 
and  suggested  to  his  pastor  that  he  ought  to  have  a  mind  of  his 
own,  and  not  be  bound  by  any  such  church  action.  But  grace 
triumphed,  peace  reigned,  and  the  pastor  had  no  warmer  friends 
than  those  who,  if  anybody,  would  naturally  be  offended  by  his 
course.  But  in  regard  to  this  action  of  the  church,  the  records 
have  been  searched  in  vain  to  find  any  allusion  to  it ;  and  prob- 
ably no  such  minute  was  ever  entered,  if  any  such  resolution 
was  ever  passed.  But  the  whole  subject  of  slavery,  which 
vexed  the  churches  of  the  land  so  many  years,  was  long  since 
buried,  be3^ond  the  possibility  of  a  resurrection,  in  the  vast  and 
dreadful  grave  dug  by  the  civil  war.  The  church  from  the  be- 
ginning, has  been  loyal  to  the  country.  Several  of  the  original 
members  were  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Few  have  been  in 
the  more  recent  wars  ;  but  church  members  gave  up  freely  their 
sons  to  service  and  to  death.  During  the  Civil  War  this  house 
witnessed  many  sad  scenes  in  which  the  solemn  funeral  service 
was  performed  in  connection  with  the  burial  of  brave  men  who 
laid  down  their  lives  for  the  life  of  the  country. 

We  must  not  fail  to  speak  of  the  work  of  the  church  in  obe- 
dience to  the  Savior's  ascending  command  :  "Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature."  Very  early 
contributions  were  made  to  the  various  missionary  organiza- 
tions. The  sixth  pastor  was  installed  in  Feb.,  1851.  About 
three  months  later  I  find  the  following  entry :  "  Voted,  that  Dea- 
cons Child s  and  Pillsbury,  together  with  the  pastor,  be  a  com- 
mittee to  report  a  plan  for  systematic  beneficence."  The  next 
month  ' '  Voted,  to  recommit  the  report  presented  by  the  com- 
mittee, 19th  ult.,  to  be  modified  and  presented  at  the  next 
meeting."  July  21th,  Voted  to  accept  and  adopt  the  report  of 
committee  touching  systematic  beneficence."  Dec.  15th  of  the 
same  year  "Church  organized  a  Religious   Charitable  Society, 


67 

according  to  constitution  adopted  July  21 ,"  and  elected  breth- 
ren to  fill  its  various  offices.  For  years  afterwards  a  list  of  all 
contributors,  of  the  sums  contributed,  and  to  what  specific  ob- 
jects, was  kept ;  showing  the  number  of  cheerful  givers  to  have 
been  very  large.  During  the  33  years,  since  1851,  between 
$11,000  and  $12,000  have  been  contributed  to  benevolent  ob- 
jects, besides  very  many  valuable  boxes  and  barrels  of  clothing. 
While  during  the  same  period  about  $40,000  have  been  expend- 
ed upon  church  work  at  home. 

This  subject  cannot  be  pursued,  neither  do  we  feel  at  liberty 
to  dismiss  it  without  mentioning  one  fact  showing  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  church  on  this  subject  of  christian  beneficence.  At 
one  time  the  several  conferences  of  the  State  made  an  effort  to 
found,  each  one,  a  scholarship  in  Dartmouth  College.  To  se- 
cure this  end  committees  were  appointed  to  apportion  to  each 
church  the  amount  they  would  be  expected  to  contribute.  For 
the  Merrimack  County  Conference  a  prominent  business  man,  and 
a  doctor  of  divinity,  residing  at  the  Capital,  solved  the  problem 
on  a  basis  which  seemed  satisfactory  to  themselves,  and  sent 
out  the  result  to  the  churches.  To  this  church  was  assigned  a 
sum  four  times  as  large  as  that  assigned  to  a  neighboring  church 
whose  membership  was  nearly  twice  as  large  as  the  membership 
of  this  church.  When  asked  for  reasons,  this  church  was  told 
that  the  assessments  were  made  on  the  probabilities  of  securing 
the  different  amounts,  judging  by  the  known  habits  of  the 
churches  on  this  ^subject  of  contributions.  It  is  quite  natural 
to  inquire  why  the  difference  in  this  respect  ?  Let  us  then  turn 
to  the  history  of  the  church  and  see  if  we  can  answer  the  ques- 
sion.  I  know  of  no  more  probable  cause  than  that  this  church 
has  been  so  largely  represented  on  missionary  ground.  Both 
sons  and  daughters  of  the  church  have  labored  in  both  the 
home  and  foreign  field.  As  many  as  eight  have  devoted  them- 
selves to  this  work.  Of  all  these  I  cannot  speak  particularly. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  William  Wood,  having  united  with  this 
church  in  1831,  after  graduating  at  Dartmouth  College  and  Un- 
ion Theological  Seminary,  was  ordained  ia  thi^  house  as  a  mis- 
sionary af  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  in  whose  service  at  Satara  and 
Amednaggar,  India,  he  spent  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  only 


68 

retired  because  of  enfeebled  health.     Elizabeth  Darling  united 
with  the  church  in  1832,  and,  graduating  at  Miss  Grant's  Sem- 
inary in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  was  married  to  Rev.  Henry  Ballantine  ; 
and  May  16,  1835,  sailed  for  India,  giving  nearly   30  years  to 
the  missionary  cause  ;  and  retired  from  it  only   when  her    hus- 
band required  rest  from  labor.     In    1864,    on  their   homeward 
passage,  he  died  and  was  buried  in  the  waters  of  the   Mediter- 
ranean sea.      Standing  there  upon  the   deck   of  the  Steamer, 
her  heart  rent  with  terrible  anguish,  this   now   sainted   woman 
said:  "It  does  not  seem  possible  that  I  can  ever  return  to  the 
scene  of  my  missionary  labors  again,  but  this  one  thing  I  will 
do,— I  will  educate  my  children,  and  send  them  i)ack   to   carry 
on  the  work  left  unfinished."    Three  of  her  four  daughters  were 
married  to  missionaries  and  returned  to  India.      One  of    these 
rests  from  her  labors,  leaving  a  daughter  to  carry  on  the    work 
in  the  missionary  field,  another  is  still  in  India,  the  third  has  re- 
turned to  this  country,  the  wife  at  present  of  a  city  pastor ;  the 
only  remaining  daughter  is  the  wife  of  a  clergyman.      One   of 
her  sons  has  been  a   missionary   physician   in  India,  but   is    at 
present  pursuing  theological  studies  preparatory  for  the  g  ospel 
ministry  ;  another  is  pastor  of  a  church  in  Boston.     She   herself 
passed  to  her  reward  from  Amherst,  Mass.,  in   1874.     I   think 
the  question  is  easily  answered  why  this  church  is  so   much   in- 
terested in  the  cause  of  missions.     And   besides  the  missiona- 
ries, the  church  has  given  several  of  her  sons  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  of  her  daughters  to  become  wive%  of   clergymen  ; 
and  sons  and  daughters  have  distinguished  themselves   as   edu- 
cators, in  professional  life,  and  as  authors.     One  would  have  to 
look  far  to  find  richer  poetry,  or  more  perfect  oratory  than  have 
flowed  from  the  pens  and  lips  of  members  of  this  church. 

The  work  of  the  church  in  connection  with  the  Sunday  school 
has  been  of  an  especially  interesting  character.  But  as  this 
has  been  so  ably  and  faithfully  digested  and  written  by  anoth- 
er, it  is  not  necessary  to  repeat  it  here.  For  70  years  the  work 
has  been  in  progress,  giving  precept  upon  precept,  precept 
upon  precept ;  line  upon  line,  line  upon  line  ;  here  a  little  and 
there  a  little  ;  and  the  fruits  have  been  most  manifest  and  very 
precious.       It  has  indeed  been  the   nursery  of  the   church 


69 

into  which  have  been  transplanted  very  many  whose  re. 
ligious  life  began  in  connection  with  the  study  of  the  word  of 
God  in  this  institution.  The  church  has  not  confined  its  efforts 
to  those  usually  worshipping  with  them,  but  has  gone  into  other 
communities,  and,  with  no  little  self-denial,  sought  to  bless 
them. 

While  a  Congregational  church,  in  an  important  sense,  is  a 
unit,  standing  by  itself,  yet  it  is  far  from  being  an  independent, 
isolated  body.  It  has  duties  as  well  as  privileges  which  call  it 
abroad  in  the  interest  of  other  churches.  And  in  the  fulfil- 
ment of  these  obligations,  this  church  has  had  a  large  experi- 
ence. The  first  record  which  I  find,  calling  this  church  to  meet 
in  council  abroad,  is  dated  Nov.  6,  1803,  to  assist  in  an  ordina- 
tion in  Groton,  and  at  the  same  date,  to  assist  in  organiz- 
ing a  church  in  Bradford.  The  church  has  been  invited  to  sit 
in  seventy-nine  councils  abroad,  one  third  of  these,  lacking  one, 
was  during  the  sixth  pastorate.  As  the  records  are  imperfect, 
probably'  this  does  not  measure  the  work  of  the  church  in  this 
particular  department.  It  has  also  borne  its  full  measure  of 
responsibility  in  local  and  state  conferences. 

The  church  has  generally  been  faithful  in  the  performance  of 
Christian  ordinances.  I  find  it  recorded  of  Ezekiel  Smith, 
whose  name  stands  third  on  the  list  of  the  original  members, 
that,  Jan.  3,  1768,  the  year  before  the  church  was  organized, 
he  with  his  wife,  riding  upon  the  same  horse,  carried  their  in- 
fant child,  less  than  a  year  old,,  to  Westboro',  Mass.,  to  have 
him  baptized.  I  also  find  that  Mr.  Scales  baptized  some  more 
than  200  children,  many  of  them  by  families,  when  their  parents 
came  into  the  church.  Feb.  24,  1839,  he  made  a  record  in 
which  he  stated  that  there  are  four  children  of  one  sister  in  the 
church  whose  husband  refuses  to  have  them  baptized  ;  and  that 
there  are  four  other  unbaptized  children  of  as  many  mothers, 
members  of  the  church,  but  whose  husbands  are  not.  With 
these  exceptions,  he  says  :  "I  believe  there  is  no  child  of  any 
member  of  the  church,  who  is  six  months  old,  and  has  not  been 
baptized."  When  this  statement  was  given  to  the  public  near- 
ly thirty  years  ago,  it  was  added  by  the  pastor:  "The  neglect 
of  infant  baptism   and   of  family  worship   is   scarcely   known 


70 

among  us."  During  the  eleven  following  years,  embracing  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Foster  and  Mr.  Searle,  only  seven  baptisms  of 
children  are  recorded.  The  sixth  pastor  baptized  forty-one 
children.  And  in  the  sixteen  years  since  his  dismission,  I  find 
a  record  of  only  ten  infant  baptisms.  A  very  natural  inference 
is  that  either  children  are  not  given  to  believing  parents,  or 
believing  parents  do  not  give  their  children  to  the  Lord  in  this 
ordinance. 

Thus  I  have  endeavored,  with  no  little  effort,  to  unravel  the 
necessarily  mixed,  and  somewhat  confused,  and  often  defective 
records  of  this  church,  and  to  present  them  in  a  logical,  that  is 
to  say,  in  this  case,  a  chronological  order  for  your  more  con- 
venient use.  Perfect  arrangement,  or  entire  freedom  from  er- 
ror  is  not  claimed.  It  cannot  be  expected  that  you  will  be  as 
much  interested  in  the  result  as  I  have  been  in  working  it  out ; 
for  I  have  seemed  to  live  through  this  more  than  century,  and 
to  be  not  merely  a  witness,  but  almost  a  participant  in  what  has 
transpired.  I  have  been,  as  it  were,  a  worshiper  in  the  roof- 
less log  house  ;  have  been  present  at  the  raising  of  the  second 
church  edifice,  which  required  all  the  strength  of  the  communi- 
t}"^,  somewhat  nerved  to  the  work  by  an  evil  spirit,  to  throw  up 
the  massive  timbers  ;  have  listened  to  the  voice  of  the  preacher 
as  it  came  down  from  yonder  scaffold  ;  have  held  my  breath 
while  gazing  with  the  astonished  crowd  up  to  that  workman 
standing  on  one  foot  upon  the  gilded  ball,  sympathizing  with 
Butler : 

"If  any  yet  be  so  foolhardy, 

T'expose  themselves  to  vain  jeopardy, 

If  they  come  wounded  off  and  lame, 

No  honor's  got  by  such  a  main  ;" 
have  wondered  how,  in  the  burning  of  this  same  house,  the 
stoves  were  consumed  together  with  bibles  and  hymn  books  ; 
without  the  aid  of  imagination,  for  nearly  eighteen  years,  have 
come  up  to  this  house  of  prayer  with  the  people  of  God  to  whom 
I  gave  my  best  earthly  love,  and  to  pai*t  with  whom  cost  a  sac- 
rific,  the  record  of  which  is  in  the  book  of  remembrauce  and 
can  never  be  effaced  from  this  undying  memory.  All  these  pas- 
tors have  passed  before  me,  entering  upon  their  work  in  the 
freshness  of  young  manhood,  with  a  holy  ambition  devoting  their 


71 

energies  to  the  building  up  of  this  church  in  its  varied  interests, 
most  of  them  retiring  in  enfeebled  health.  All  of  the  speaker's 
predecessors,  and  his  immediate  successor,  have  passed  from 
the  earthly  to  the  heavenly  employment,  and  are  today  associ- 
ated with  many  who  have  become  stars  in  the  crown  of  rejoic- 
ing. 

I  have  witnessed  your  joys  at  the  bridal  alter,  and  in  the 
wider  social  gatherings  ;  have  also  stood  in  more  than  a  hun- 
dred of  your  dwellings,  in  the  midst  of  weeping  circles,  where 
the  palor  of  death  rested  on  the  countenance  of  some  loved  one, 
where  the  hand  was  palsied,  the  heart  motionless,  the  lip  sealed, 
the  eye  shut. 

Six  hundred  and  fifty  names  stand  on  your  register,  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  of  which  are  italicized,  emphasizing  not 
so  much  the  fact  of  death,  as  of  life,  eternal  life. 

The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  eighty. 


u 


HENNIKER,    N.    H 


a:RGrJ^l<TXZ-:EMD     J-tJITE     7,    1769. 


liMi 


^.^tkltl^k  .-^  ,,.-*-->4Al»^-; 


II 


MANUAL 


CONGEEGATIONAL  CHURCH, 


HENNIKER,   N.   H., 


ADOPTED  FEBRUARY,  1872. 


'  The  foundation  of  God  standeth  sure,  havuvo  this  seal,  The 
Lord  kxowetii  theji  that  are  his.  And,  Let  every 
one  that  nameth  the  name  of  Christ  de- 
part FROM  INIQUITY.'*— 2  Tim.  2:19. 


CONCORD,   N.    H.: 

PRINTED  BY  THE  REPUBLICAN  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

1872. 


1 

^P1 

^^lk>°  '^'-^H 

1 

^^^^^^H.^  ^^M 

1 

fMg'*''^^  >^H 

'1 

' 

'^  'M 

MANUAL 

OP  THE 

CONGEEGATIONAL  CHURCH. 


HISTOmCAL  SKETCH. 


As  early  as  1748,  several  persons,  inhabitants  of  Lon- 
donderry, associated  with  view  to  obtaining  a  grant 
of  unoccupied  land.  In  1752  they  succeeded,  receiving 
July  16  of  that  year,  a  proprietor's  right  to  what  is 
now  the  township  of  Henniker. 

The  French  war  coining  on,  no  settlement  was  made 
till  1761.  During  that  year  James  Peters  located  with 
his  family,  and  the  next  year  other  families  followed. 
The  township  charter  was  granted  Xov.  10,  1768,  by 
George  III,  through  Gov.  John  Wentworth,  and  at  that 
time  there  were  thirty  families  within  its  limits.  The 
name  is  said  to  have  b^en  given  by  Gov.  Wentvvorth 
in  honor  of  a  London  friend  of  his  who  bore  the  same. 

During  the  summer  of  1768,  individuals  had  sub- 
scribed to  hire  Jacob  Rice  to  preach  the  gospel  among 
them  ;  and  June  7,  1769,  a  council  was  called  to  assist  in 
organizing  a  church.  At  that  time  the  present  Congre- 
gational church  was  organized  and  Mr.  Rice  ordained 
its  pastor,  the  town  assuming  his  support. 


Tlie  church  adopted  no  Confession  of  Faith  at  its  or- 
ganization, but  covenanted  to  be  "  guided  in  all  things 
by  the  Holy  Scriptures." 

Fifteen  years  afterwards  it  voted  to  accept  "  that  part 
of  the  Cambridge  Platform,  entitled  Admission  of 
Members,"  and  two  years  later  it  adopted  five  Rules  of 
Discipline,  of  which  no  record  is  preserved.  On  Nov.  11, 
1802,  the  church  adopted  a  carefully  prepared  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  which,  as  revised  in  1835,  and  again  in 
1872,  still  continues  to  be  the  symbol  of  its  belief. 
Tliis  church  pi'actised  the  half  way  covenant,  so  called, 
till  1795. 

The  first  building  for  religious  Avorship — a  log  house 
20  by  30  feet — was  erected  in  1770,  and  occupied  ten 
years,  when  it  was  burned.  After  this,  till  1786,  the 
tOAvn  was  without  any  bouse  of  worship.  That  year  it 
voted  to  build  one  "40  by  60  feet,  with  two  porches,  on 
the  centre  lot."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  it  voted  to 
add  five  feet  to  its  length  ;  and  this  house,  when  com- 
pleted, was  occupied  till  1802.  In  that  year,  difierences 
arising  respecting  the  settlement  of  a  pastor,  it  was 
closed  to  the  church, and  has  since  been  occupied  chiefly 
as  a  town  house. 

Another  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  another 
part  of  the  village  the  same  year,  and  occupied  till 
August  23,  1833,  when  it  was  buraed  with  all  its  con- 
tents; and,  through  a  defective  title,  the  ground  upon 
which  it  stood  reverted  to  the  original  owners. 

Not  to  be  overcome  by  adversities,  the  church  and 
society  connected  Avith  it  immediately  secured  a  new 
location,  and  began  to  build  the  fourth  house  of  wor- 
ship. This  Avas  completed,  and  dedicated  Aug,  27,  1834. 
It  still  continues  to  be  the  Church  Home. 


ADMISSION  OF  MEMBERS. 


[The  persons  will  present  themselves  before  the  pulpit,  and  the  minister 
will  address  those  to  be  admitted  by  profession,  as  follows:] 

Jesus  says,  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny 
himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me.  For  who- 
soever will  save  his  life  shall  lose  it;  and  whosoever  will 
lose  his  life  for  my  sake  shall  find  it.  Whosoever  there- 
fore shall  confess  me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also 
before  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  But  whosoever 
shall  deny  me  before  men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before 
my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.*  In  obedience  to  Christ's 
command,  and  as  an  expression  of  your  love  and  devo- 
tion to  him,  you  now  desire  to  make  public  profession 
of  your  faith,  and  to  enter  into  covenant  with  this 
church  in  doctrine,  in  fellowship,  and  in  duty. 

Dearly  beloved,  we  trust  you  feel  the  solemnity  and 
blessedness  of  this  confession  of  discipleship  to  Jesus, 
the  Christ.  May  the  blessing  of  God  the  Father  rest 
upon  you,  that  it  may  be  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of 
his  grace  :  for  by  grace  ye  are  saved  through  faith.  Let 
a  sense  of  your  own  weakness  teach  you  dependence 
upon  divine  strength  for  ability  to  keep  these  solemn 
vows;  and  your  faith  in  the  promises  assure  you  that  He 
who  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you  will  perform  it  until 
the  day  of  Jesus  Christ. 

♦  Matt.  16:24  and  10:32. 


[The  minister  will  address  those  admitted  by  letter  as  follows :] 

You  have  already  made  public  confession  of  your  dis- 
cipleship  to  Jesus  Chrisf,  and  been  received  into  another 
branch  of  the  Household  of  Faith.  A  change  of  resi- 
dence has  cast  your  lot  among  us ;  and  that  you  may 
still  have  the  fellowship  of  believers  and  be  most  truly 
a  servant  of  the  Master,  you  now  seek  admission  to  this 
communion.  You  come  to  us  bearing  letters  of  com- 
mendation from  the  communion  you  leave;  and  we  joy- 
fully receive  you,  only  asking  that  you  assent  to  our 
Confession  of  Faith,  that  you  renew  your  covenant  with 
your  Saviour,  and  enter  heartily  into  these  new  rela- 
tions. 

You  will  now  attend  to  the  articles  which  this  church 
has  adopted  as  its 

CONFESSION  OF  FAITH. 


We  believe  there  is  only  one  true  God,  a  spirit,  in- 
finite in  every  natural  and  moral  perfection. 

We  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  were  given  by  inspiration  of  God  ;  that  they 
contain  a  complete  and  harmonious  system  of  religious 
truth,  and  are  the  only  infallible  rule  of  religious  faith 
and  practice. 

We  believe  God  is  revealed  in  the  Scriptures  as  Fa- 
ther, Son,  and  Holy  Spirit ;  and  that  these  three  are  one. 

We  believe  God  governs  all  things  according  to  his 
eternal  and  infinitely  wise  purpose,  securing  his  own 
glory  and  the  greatest  good  of  the  universe ;  and  in  per- 
fect consistency  with  his  hatred  of  sin,  the  free  agency 
of  man,  and  the  importance  of  the  use  of  means. 


We  believe  the  law  of  God  that  reqiaires  holiness  of 
heart  and  life  is  benevolent  and  wise,  and  is  binding  as 
a  rule  of  duty  upon  all  mankind. 

We  believe  God  created  man  holy,  and  that  he  fell 
from  this  state  by  sinning  against  God  ;  that  the  race  is 
now  destitute  of  holiness,  and  so  continues  until  quick- 
ened by  the  Holy  Spirit. 

We  believe  that,  according  to  the  prediction  of  God, 
the  Son  has  come  in  the  flesh,  and  made  an  atonement 
sufticient  for  all  mankind  ;  that  God  can  now  consistent- 
ly, and  will,  pardon  all  who  repent  and  believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

We  believe  in  the  necessity  of  the  new  birth,  and 
that  it  is  a  moral  change  produced  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
operating  on  the  mind  through  the  truth,  in  which  the 
person  freely  turns  from  all  known  sin. 

We  believe  the  sinner's  justification  is  of  free  grace, 
and  through  faith  in  the  atonement  of  Christ. 

We  believe  all  true  Christians  are  God's  chosen  peo- 
ple, and  that,  though  free  to  fall,  they  will  be  kept  by  the 
power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

We  believe  that  watchfulness  over  the  life,  the  study 
of  the  Scriptures,  a  conscientious  attendance  upon  pub- 
lic and  private  worship,  together  with  the  steady  prac- 
tice of  righteousness,  truth,  sincerity,  and  charity 
toward  others,  of  sobriety,  chastity,  and  temperance 
toward  ourselves,  are  indispensable  Christian  duties. 

We  believe  in  the  visible  church  of  Christ  on  earth  ; 
and  that  it  consists  of  those  who  publicly  profess  their 
faith  in  him,  and  covenant  together  to  walk  in  the  ordi- 
nances of  his  gospel. 

We  believe  in  the  divine  appointment  of  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath,  the  gospel  ministry,  and  the  sacraments  of 


8 


j    the  New  Testament, — Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper; 
I    that  Baptism  is  to  be  administerd  only  to  believers  and 
i    their  households;  and  the  Lord's  Supper  only  to  those 
:    in  regular  standing  in  some  evangelical  church. 
I        We  believe  human  probation  ends  at  death,  and  that 
there  is  a  day  appointed  in  which  Christ  will  raise  the 
dead,  and  judge  the  world  in  righteousness;  that  those 
who  die  impenitent  will  go  away  into  everlasting  punish- 
ment, but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 

Do  you  confess  this  as  your  Christian  belief? 

[Persons  will  assent  by  bowing;  then  baptism  will  be  administered  to 
such  as  have  never  been  baptized;  after  which  the  minister  will  address 
those  baptized  in  childhood,  as  follows:] 

Through  the  faith  of  Christian  parents  you  have 
already  received  baptism.  You  do  now  acknowledge  as 
valid  the  ordinance  of  baptism  administered  to  you  in 
childhood,  by  which  your  parents  gave  you  up  in 
solemn  consecration  to  God  ?  You  do  here  publicly  as- 
sume all  the  obligations  as  well  as  privileges  that  bap- 
tism signifies,  and  now,  by  your  own  choice,  ratify  and 
complete  that  membership  in  Christ  which  parental  faith 
and  love  begun  for  you  ? 

You  will  now  assent  to  the 

COVENANT. 

In  the  presence  of  angels  and  men,  you  solemnly 
avow  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  you  God,  the  object  of 
your  supreme  affection. 

You  accept  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Saviour; 
the  Holy  Spirit  as  your  comforter;  and  the  Bible  as 
your  rule  of  life. 


9 

You  heartily  consecrate  yourself  to  God  and  his  ser- 
vice in  an  everlasting  covenant. 

You  purpose,  by  divine  grace,  to  obey  his  command- 
ments ;  to  give  diligent  attention  to  his  word  and  ordi- 
nances, to  family  and  secret  prayer,  and  to  the  observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath. 

You  design  to  seek  the  honor  of  his  name,  and  the  in- 
terest of  his  kingdom ;  and,  denying  all  ungodliness  and 
every  worldly  lust,  to  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  god-  . 
ly  in  the  world. 

You  also  covenant  to  walk  with  this  church  of  Christ 
in  Christian  love,  fellowship,  and  faithfulness ;  to  coop- 
erate in  its  measures  for  the  support  of  the  gospel ;  to 
contribute  of  your  means  according  to  your  ability  ;  and 
in  all  things  to  seek  its  peace  and  prosperity  while  you 
continue  a  member  of  it. 

In  humble  dependence  upon  divine  grace  for  needful 
help  in  keeping  these  vows,  do  you  thus  covenant  ? 

[The  church  will  rise,  and  the  minister  will  continue  as  follows:] 

Most  affectionately  now  do  we,  the  members  of  this 
church,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  welcome  you  to  this 
communion,  and  to  all  the  blessed  privileges  of  children 
in  our  Father's  house.  We  break  with  you  this  bread 
of  life.  We  share  with  you  this  cup  of  blessing.  We 
ask  your  aid  in  turning  to  our  Master  the  hearts  of  the 
children  of  men.  We  covenant  with  you  to  hold  your 
peace  and  welfare  dear  to  us.  We  promise  gladly  to 
render  our  offices  of  love  ;  and,  so  far  as  we  are  able,  to 
seek  your  growth  in  grace,  your  sweet  experience  of 
Christ's  love,  and  your  perfect  raeetness  for  the  heaven- 
ly home. 


10 


And  now,  dearly  beloved,  we  commend  you  unto  the 
Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole 
family  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named ;  that  he  would 
grant  you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be 
strengthened  with  might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner  man  ; 
that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith,  and  ye 
be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God.  And  unto  him  that 
is  able  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  present  you  fault- 
less before  the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy, 
to  the  only  wise  God,  our  Saviour,  be  glory  and  majesty, 
dominion  and  power,  both  now  and  ever.     Amen.* 

*  Eph.  8 :  15 ;  Jude,  24th  verse. 


BAPTISM  OF  CHILDREN. 


[Parents  desiring  to  have  tlielr  children  baptised  are  requested  to  bring 
them,  if  convenient,  on  Communion  sabbath,  at  the  opening  of  the  after- 
noon'service.  They  are  also  requested  to  give  tlie  pastor  suitable  notice, 
together  with  the  child's  name  and  date  of  birth.] 

In  presenting  this  child  for  baptism,  you  profess  your 
faith  in  the  covenant  made  by  God  with  Abraham,  rati- 
fied by  Christ,  and  perpetuated  under  the  Christian  dis- 
pensation. As  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faithful, 
entered  into  covenant  with  God,  and  his  seed  after  him, 
so  do  von  now  covenant  with  him  in  the  dedication  of 
this  child  to  his  service.  You  hereby  engage  to  be  faith- 
ful to  your  parental  relations ;  to  pray  for  and  with  this 
child  ;  to  instruct  hira  (her)  in  the  doctrines  and  duties 
of  our  holy  religion ;  to  set  an  example  of  godliness  be- 
fore him  (her)  ;  and  to  endeavor,  by  all  the  means  of 
divine  appointment,  relying  much  upon  the  gracious  in- 
fluences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  prepare  him  (her)  for  full 
admission  to  the  visible  church  on  earth,  and  the  church 
triumphant  in  heaven. 

Jesus  said,  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me, 
and  forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
And  he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his  hands  upon 
them,  and  blessed  them.* 

BAPTISM. 
•      BAPTISMAL  CHANT. 

PKAYER. 

*  Mark  10:14,10. 


STANDING  RULES. 


[Let  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in  order.    1  Cor.  14 :  40.] 
I.      POLITY. 

This,  as  a  Congregational  church,  receives  all  its  au- 
thority from  the  word  of  God.  It  is  competent  to  ex- 
ercise that  authority  independent  of  any  other  ecclesi- 
astical body,  so  far  as  relates  to  its  internal  organization, 
the  administration  of  gospel  ordinances,  the  choice  of 
its  officers,  and  the  admission,  discipline,  and  removal  of 
its  members.  Its  relation  to  other  churches  is  that  of 
fellowship  and  communion,  according  to  established  Con- 
gregational principles. 

II.       OFFICERS. 

The  permanent  officers  of  the  church  are  a  pastor  and 
two  or  more  deacons. 

In  addition  to  these,  the  church  will  choose  annually 
a  clerk,  a  treasurer,  and  a  committee  of  examination. 

III.      DUTIES. 

The  pastor  shall  be  a  member  of  this  church,  and 
when  present  act  as  moderator  at  its  meetings. 

The  treasurer  will  have  charge  of  all  money  received 
by  contribution  or  otherwise,  disburse  the  same  as  direct- 
ed by  the  church,  and  make  an  annual  report  in  writing. 

The  clerk  will  keep  the  records  of  the  church,  and 
make  an  annual  report;  in  which  report  he  shall  give 
the  number  of  members,  the  number  antl  manner  of  ad- 
ditions and  removals  during  the  year,  together  with  a 


13 

list  of  non-resident  members  and  any  information  re- 
specting them  he  may  deem  it  important  to  communicate. 
The  committee  will  examine  candidates  for  admission 
to  the  church,  and  have  the  special  care  of  its  discipline. 

IV.      MEMBERSHIP. 

Persons  desiring  to  unite  with  the  church  by  profes- 
sion of  faith  will  give  the  committee  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  their  conversion,  and  be  recommended  by  them 
to  the  church.  They  will  also  present  before  the  church 
a  written  or  verbal  statement  of  their  Christian  experi- 
ence, and  be  voted  upon  one  by  one. 

All  candidates  for  admission  by  profession  will  stand 
propounded  two  weeks ;  and,  if  they  have  been  approved 
by  vote  of  the  church  at  a  regular  meeting,  they  maybe 
received  at  the  following  communion  by  assenting  to  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant. 

Persons  desiring  to  unite  by  letter  will  pass  their  let- 
ters to  the  pastor,  who  Avill  examine  the  case,  and,  if  no 
objection  is  found,  recommend  the  person  to  the  church 
for  its  action ;  when  received,  they  will,  at  the  first  con- 
venient opportunity,  publicly  assent  to  the  Articles  of 
Faith  and  Covenant  of  the  church. 

Members  who  are  absent  for  one  year  or  more  are  ex- 
pected to  take  letters  to  other  churches,  or  give  the 
clerk  good  reasons  for  not  doing  so. 

Members  of  other  Congregational  churches,  who  may 
desire  to  commune  with  us  for  more  than  one  year,  are 
expected  to  unite  with  us  unless  there  arc  special  rea- 
sons for  delay. 

v.  DISCIPLINE, 

The  occasions  of  discipline  are  of  two  kinds:  private, 
as  wrong  done  to  an  individual ;  and  public,  as  wrong 


14 


done  to  the  church  by  immoral  conduct,  or  cherished 
disbelief,  or  continued  neglect  of  covenant  obligations. 
The  rules  given  by  Christ  in  Matthew  18  :  15-17,  are  to 
be  followed  by  members  of  the  church  in  cases  of  pri- 
vate oifence  ;  and  tlie  spirit  of  these  rules  must  govern 
all  disciplinary  action  of  the  church. 

When  any  member  is  guilty  of  a  public  oifence,  it  is 
the  duty  of  any  other  member  who  has  knowledge  of  the 
facts,  to  seek,  according  to  tlie  2>rcccding  rules,  to  lead 
him  to  repentance ;  and  when  neglected  by  others  it 
shall  be  the  special  duty  of  the  examining  committee. 

The  extent  of  discipline  is  private  reproof,  public  ad- 
monition, temporary  suspension  from  church  privileges, 
or  excommunication,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  of- 
fence. 

VI.  CHURCH  NOTICES. 

Regular  contributions  are  made  to  such  benevolent 
objects  as  the  church,  from  time  to  time,  may  select. 

The  annual  meeting  for  hearing  reports,  choosing  of- 
ficers, &c.,  is  held  on  the  last  Thursday  of  the  year,  and 
in  connection  with  the  prayer-meeting  of  that  day. 

The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  administered 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  first  Sabbath  in  January,  March, 
May,  July,  September,  and  November. 

The  preparatory  lecture  is  on  the  Thursday  preceding 
each  communion  Sabbath,  at  2  o'clock. 

A  Church  prayer  and  conference  meeting  is  held  on 
Thursday  of  each  week. 

A  monthly  concert  of  prayer  for  missions  is  held  on 
the  first  Sabbath  evening  of  each  month. 

The  Sabbath  services  commence  at  10 :  30  A.  m.,  from 
the  first  of  November  to  the  first  of  April,  and  at 
11  A.  M.,  during  the  remainder  of  the  year. 


CATALOGUE  OP  OFFICERS  AND  MEMBERS. 


PASTORS. 

Rev.  Jacob  Rice,  ordained  June  7, 1789;  dismissed  Feb.  20, 178J 
Rev.  Moses  Sawyer,  ordained  May  26. 1802;  dismissed  Marclj  29  1826. 
Rev  Jacob  Scales,  installed  Jan.  17,  1827;  dismissed  March  1  1839. 
Rev  Eden  B.  Foster,  d.  d.,  ordained  Aug.  17, 1841;  d.sm^sed  Jb-  '-  l^J. 
Rev.  Richard  T.  Searle,  installed  Nov.  30, 1847;  dismissed  March  ^,  1850. 
Rev.  J.  M.  R.  Eaton,  installed  Feb.  25,1851;  dismissed  June  2, 1868. 
Rev.  S.  S.  Morrill,  installed  Sept.  1, 1870. 


DEACONS. 

Ebenezer  Hathorn,  chosen  June  7, 1769;  died  Feb.  5, 1814. 

William  Pressbury,  chosen  June  7. 1769;  died 

David  Clough,  chosen  July  23.  1802;  died  Jan.  2, 1819. 

Daniel  Rice,  chosen  July  23, 1802;  died  Jan.  15, 1821 

William  C.  Woodbury,  chosen  July  16, 1817;  resigiu-d  Nov.  19  ISa.. 

George  Connor,  chosen  July  16,  1817;  excommunicated  Jan.  23, 1830. 
Nathaniel  Cogswell,  chosen  Nov.  18, 1822;  died  July  1<.  1836. 

Josiah  Childs.  chosen  Dec.  5, 1831;  died  Feb.  1,  1863   __ 

Oliver  rillsbury,  chosen  Dec.  5. 1831 ;  died  Feb.  2/,  18o. . 

Horace  Childs,  chosen  Feb  19, 1855. 

Worcester  Hathorn,  chosen  Feb.  19, 1855. 


LIST    OF   MEMBERS, 


WITH  DATE  AND  MANNER  OP  RECEPTION  AND  REMOVAL. 


P       Admitted  by  profpsslon. 
L      Admitted  by  letter. 
♦       Removed  by  death. 
Dis.  Removed  by  dismission. 


Ex.  Removed  by  excommunication. 
I      Connects  husband  and  wife. 
(  )    Encloses  husband's  name. 


Silas  Barnes 
Ebenezer  Hathorn 
Thomas  Howlet 
William  Tressbury 


ORIGINAL  MEMBERS. 


Timothy  Ross 
Josiah  Ward 
Charles  Whitcomb 
Ezekiel  Smith 


Jacob  Rice  (pastor  elect)  Dis.  Oct.  29, 1822 


ADDED  MEMBERS  REMOVED. 


lieceived. 

Feb. 

12, 1832 

P 

May 

10, 1812 

P 

Nov. 

11,  1838 

P 

Nov. 

Aug. 
Feb. 

3,  1816 
11,  1816 
11,  1855 

P 
P 
P 

July 

14. 1822 

L 

Aug. 

12, 1838 

P 

Nov.  14.1824  P 
Nov.  13,  1842  P 
Nov.       9,  1834    P 


Removed. 


Abbott  Clarissa(^P^i-J-f«tt^ 

Abbott  Sarah  (Dyer) 

Adams  Sally  (Benj.Hoyt) 

Aii„.,  in„„„  i>    /Joshua  Alley        \ 
Alley  Mary  B.  [^^..^^  Parkinson) 

Amsden  Joseph   I 

Amsden  Abigail  I 

Atkinson  James  V.  1 

Atkinson  Jane  ) 

Bacon  Louisa  (A.  D.  L.  F.  Connor)  • 

Bailey  Elizabeth  * 

Bailey  Abigail  * 

Ballard  Maria  C.(g-/,Stob''scaTe')D- ^'ov.  10,1839 

Barnes  Elizabeth  (Silas) 

Bartlett  Caroline  L.    (John  S.) 
Berry  Kev.  Aujiustus 
Blanchard  Mehitable  (Nathan) 


Dis.  Nov.  17, 1834 

Dis.  March  23,  1834 
Dis.  Dec.  23,  1810 


Dis.  Sept.  30, 1827 
Dis.  Sept.  2,  1827 


Dis.  Nov.  11, 1842 
Dis.  Dec.  11,  1864 


Received. 
April  29,1835 
May       8, 1857 
May       9. 1858 


Nov.  3, 1816 

Aug.  12, 1838 

May  10, 1829 

Aue.  8, 1868 

July  29, 1810 

Aug.  21,1843 
March  24,  1859 

Feb.  14, 1830 


March  25, 1810 
March  25, 1810 

Aug.  8, 1P24 
Aug.  8, 1824 
Nov.    13,1831 


17 


Blanchard  Nathan  ) 
Blanchard  Abigail  I 
Blanchard  S.  Garland 
Bowman  Francis 
Bowman  I'rudence 


Removed. 
Dis.  Dec.  19,  1861 
Dig.  Dec.  19, 1861 
Dis.  Dec.  19, 1861 


„„„„.„„..„„ (Jonas) 

^  .      1.  1  /Francis  Bowman  jr. 

Bowman  Azubah  [^  ^^^^  ^^^  Abbott 

„   ..    .   /Levi  Bowman     \ 
Bowman  Ruth  A.^^^iuj^^  Clieney  j 

"     —  (Paschal) 


(Silas  Whitney) 
(Annas) 


(Vatney  Wardwell) 


Nov. 

Feb. 

F^b. 

May 

Aug. 

May 

May 

Aug. 

April 

Feb. 

Jan. 


13, 1831 

8,1835 
21, 1836 

8, 1812 
12, 1838 

8,1842 
14,  1843 
21,  1843 
29,  1835 
11, 1849 
14,1850 


Aug.  14,  1803 
March  26, 1810 
Aug.  11,  1833 
April  11,1816 
Nov.  3, 1816 
18, 1827 
13, 1831 
13,  1831 
13,  1831 
13,  1831 
10, 1833 
11, 1838 
8,  1835 
8,  18.36 
29,  1835 
April  29,  1835 
May  11, 1856 
8,  1858 
10,  1803 

12,  1805 
8,  1818 

14,  1830 
29,  1830 

13,  1831 
13, 1831 


Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
April 


Aug. 
July 
May 
Nov. 
Feb. 
June 
Nov. 
Nov. 


P 
P 

P 
L 
P 

P 

P 
P 
P 
P 
P 
P 
P 
P 
L 
L 

L, 
P 
P 
P 
P 
L 
L 
I. 
P 
P 
P 
P 

P 
P 
P 
1' 
P 
P 
P 
P 
P 
L 
P 
P 


Brooks  Elmira 

Brown  Mary  J. 

Butler  Sally 

Campbell  Abigail 

Carter  Rev.  N.  F. 

Carter  William 

Cate  Huldah 

Childs  Solomon 

Childs  Patty        J 

Childs  Aaron 

Childs  Dea.  Josiah  ) 

Childs  Abigail  ) 

Childs  Patty  (William  Eaton) 

Childs  Solomon  jr.  1 

Childs  Lucinda        ) 

Childs  Josiah  jr. 

Childs  Rosella 


/John  Whitney \ 
V Edgerton  ) 


Ex.  Feb.  8, 1863 
Ex.  July  20, 1835 
* 

Dis.  April  11, 1868 

* 

Dis.  Nov.  12, 1837 


Dis.  Sept.  18, 1803 

* 

Dis.  Jan.  1,  1837 
Dis.  May  10, 1837 


Childs  William  C 

Childs  Addison 

Childs  Caroline 

Childs  Martha 

Childs  Julia  A. 

Childs  J.  Webster 

Childs  Mary  E. 

Childs  S.  Austin 

Childs  Pliilena 

Choate  Lucy 

Clough  Dea.  David 

Clough  Abigail 

Clough  Benjamin 

Cochrane  Mary 

Cogswell  Hannah 

Cogswell  Dea.  Nathaniel  1 

Cogswell  Lucy  P.  i 

Cogswell  Thomas  1 

Cogswell  Hannah  I 

Cogswell  Jonathan  ) 

Cogswell  Mary  D.     I 

Cogswell  George  W.  1 

Cogswell  Mary  L.      J 

Cogswell  Louisa  D.  (Thomas) 

Cogswell  Abigail  A.  (Benj.  Andrews) 

Coj,'swell  Abigail  P.      (Daniel) 

Cogswell  Mary  II.    (Charles  Choate) 

Cogswell  Mary  (Washington) 

Cogswell  Susan  C.  (Geo.  K.  Moulton) 


(John  J.  Stillman) 
(Benjamin  Colby) 

(Calvin  Lowe) 

(Carlos) 
(Solomon) 

(Nathaniel) 
(David) 


Dis.  Nov.  15, 1847 
Dis.  Ma>  4, 1866 

Dis.  July  26, 1860 
Dis.  Aprils,  1854 
Dis.  Dec.  27,1846 


Dis.  Oct.  16. 1814 


Dis.  Dec.  18, 1836 


Dis.  Dec,  18, 

Dis.  Dec.  18, 

Ex.  March  20, 

Ex.  March  20, 

Dis.  Dec.  18, 

* 

Ex.  March  20, 
Dis.  Oct.  11, 


1836 
1833 
1848 
1848 
1836 

1848 
1866 


Colby  Mary 
Colby  Sally 
Colby  Lydia 
Colby  Mary 
Colby  Sarah  C. 
Colby  Levi  1 
Colby  Betsey  J 


(David) 

(Solomon  Newton) 

(Eliphaletjr.) 

(Langdon) 


Dis.  Oct.  23, 1869 


Dis.  Aug.  7,  1859 
Dis.  May  4,  1856 
Dis.  May  4, 1866 


18 


lieceived. 
May  13, 1832 
May  13,  1832 
Feb.  10. 1833 
April  29,  1835 
April  29,1835 
April  29,  1836 
May  8,  1836 
8,1842 
11,  1844 
8,1858 
11, 1861 


May 
Feb. 
Aug. 
Aug. 


Nov. 
April 
April 
Kov. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Feb. 
Aug. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
May 
Feb. 
I-'eb. 
Feb. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
April 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
March 
March 
Aug. 
June 
June 
Jan. 
Oct. 
Feb. 
May 
-'^Nov. 
Feb. 
Nov. 
May 
April 
Sept. 
8ept. 
Aug. 

May 

Nov. 
Nov. 
July 
July 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Nov. 


1804 
1816 
1816 
1831 
1831 
1831 
1832 
1832 
1838 
1838 
1844 
1834 
1816 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1811 
1833 
1835 
1816 
1816 
1832 
1835 
1803 
1803 
1816 
1802 
1802 
1803 
1822 
1835 
1832 
1858 
1835 
1860 
1828 
1835 
1841 
1841 
1851 


(Samuel  Gammel) 

(John  Crowell) 

(Nicholas  liobbins) 

(Erastus  Taylor) 

(Jonathan) 
(Charles  Conn) 


Bemoved. 

Dls.  Dec.  9, 1838 

Dis.  Sept.  19,  1842 

Dis.  Dec.  9, 1838 

Dis.  May  4,  1856 

Dis.  Jan.  15, 1837 

Ex.  July  17, 1848 

Dis.  May  4, 1856 


Ex.  Jan.  23, 1830 
Ex.  Jan.  21, 1833 


Colby  Lucy 

Colby  Catherine 

Colby  Lydia 

Colby  Benjamin 

Colby  Mary 

Colby  Levi  jr. 

Colby  Elizabeth 

Colby  J^uclnda 

Colby  Joshua  H. 

Colby  Joseph  B. 

Colby  Dea.  Nehemiah 

Connor  Dea.  George  1 

Connor  Hannah        j 

Connor  Susanna  (John  T.) 

Connor  John  \  * 

Connor  Mary  j  * 

Connor  Abel      )  * 

Connor  Martha  (  * 

Connor  Susan  H.  (William)  * 

Connor  Liva  (Solomon  Heath)     Dis.  Feb.  6, 1840 

Connor  Liza  * 

Connor  Kunice  C.         (E.  P.  Leach)         Dis.  Nov.  9, 1866 

Connor  Hannah  C.    (1*.  M.  Flanders)       Dis.  July  6, 1851 

Cotton  Sophroula        (Nathaniel)         Dis.  Aug.  30,  1847 

Dale  Betsey  (Philip)  * 

Darling  Isaac  * 

Darling  Geo.  A.  P.  Dis.  June  16, 1834 

Darling  Elizabeth    (Henry  Ballantine)  Dis.  Aug.  10, 1866 

Darling  Joshua  I  * 


Darlhig  Mary 
Darling  Susan  W. 
Darling  C.  P.  H. 
Davis  Thomas  M. 
Davis  I'hebe 
Davis  Mary 
Davis  Wells 
Dimond  Kzekiel  1 
Dimond  Abigail  j 
Dufer  Hannah 
Dutton  Jeremiah  1 
Dutton  Betsey      ) 
Eager  Sarah 
Eaton  Obediah  P. 
Eaton  Page         j 
Eaton  Boxy  B.  ( 
Eaton  Thomas  E. 
Farmer  Silas 
Flanders  Nancy 
Foster  Polly 
Foster  Zebulon 
Foster  Rev.  E.  B. 
Foster  Catlierine  P 
Foster  Caroline  F. 


(Jonathan  P.) 


Dis.  Jan.  26,  1835 
Ex.  April  17,  1848 
Ex.  Feb.  21, 1831 


(John  Proctor)    Dis.  Sept.  10, 1837 
Dis.  Jan.  14,  1860 
Dis.  April  17,  1808 
Dis.  April  17,  1808 


W. 


(Abel) 


(Joseph) 


(James) 
(Zebulon) 


Dis.  July  28, 1805 
Dis.  July  28, 1805 

* 

Dis.  June  20,  1826 
Dis.  Oct.  2,  1853 
Dis.  Oct.  2,  1853 
Dis.  Jan.  8, 1865 


Dis.  April  15, 1861 
Dis.  April  15, 1851 


1864  P  Foster  Julia  M. 

1857  P  Folsom  Samuel 

1831  P  Gammel  Lydia 
1802  P  Gibson  Dinah 
1810  P  Gibson  Persis 
1824  P  Gibson  Lewis) 
1816  P  Gibson  Lucy   ) 

1832  P  Gibson  Elvira 


(William  Folsom) 
/Charles  Foster \ 
V  Orlando  Fitts  ) 


(Charles  Pingree)      Ex.  July  2, 1823 


Feb.       8, 1835    P    Gibson  Lydia  D. 


/Nahum  Gibson  \ 
\  John  Stewart  ) 


. '  WJiXl  1 1-  jy-l'lSnHBWWBBHBWnHBHHBPBWIPWr" 


^^gmHomame. 


19 


Received. 
April  29,  1835 
Feb.     12, 1832 

Nov.      9, 1834 
April  29,  1835 


July  29,  1810 

Feb.  25,  1816 

Aug.  11,1816 

Nov.  9,  1834 


Gibson  Susan 


(John) 


Dec. 
Feb. 
May 
Aug. 
:May 
Feb. 
Aug. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Aug. 
May 

Aug. 
Nov. 
Feb. 
May 
Oct. 
Feb. 
Feb. 


14, 1817 
14,  ia30 
13, 18-32 
11,  1811 

13,  1838 
8,  1835 

21,  1843 

11,  1838 

11. 1838 

9,1828 

8,  1824 

4,  1823 

14,  1825 
14,  1824 
10,  1833 

8,  1836 
3,  1802 
8,1818 
8,  1818 


Nov.      9,  1834    r 


.-,     J       ^r  K-*  y.\^  /Jeremiah  Davis \ 

Gordon  Mehitable  (^james  Ellis         ) 

Gordon  Lydia  (Jacob) 

Gordon  Kmily  K.    (Abram  Goldsmith) 

Goss  Epliraim  1 

Goss  Kuth       i 

Goss  Sally 

Goss  Rev.  Jacob  C. 

Goss  Annas 

Goss  Luther 

Gould  Amos  \ 

Gould  Mary  ) 

Gould  Gertrude 

Gould  Clarissa  L. 

Gould  Eliasjr.  I 

Gould  Sally      ( 

Gould  Daniel  C. 

Gould  LaviniaM. 

Gould  Emeline  A. 

Gove  Louisa 

Gove  Mary 

Graves  Amasa 

Greenleaf  Mary  B 

Hardy  Judith 

Hathorn  Klioda 

Hathorn  Polly 

tlathorn  John  jr. 

Hathorn  Levi 

Hathorn  Eliza 

Heath  Lois 

Hill  Josiah    ( 

Hill  Abigail ) 

Holmes  Anna 


Removed. 
Ex.  Aug.  1*0, 1837 


(Elias) 
(Chevey  Chase) 


(Gilbert) 
(Amasa  Bryant) 

(William) 
(Dea.  Ebenezer) 

(Mat  bias) 


Dec. 

Aug. 


6, 1812 
11,  1816 


Aug.  8, 

Nov.  13, 

Nov.  13, 

Nov.  13, 

May  14, 

Nov.  3, 

April  12, 

Nov.  14, 

Aug.  11, 

Nov.  3, 

Nov.  13, 

Nov.  13, 

Aug.  12, 

Nov.  13, 

Sept.  29, 

Nov.  11, 

Nov.  13, 

Nov.  13, 

Aug.  16, 

Feb.  8, 

Feb.  25, 
March  25, 

Nov.  13, 


1830 

1831 

1831 

1831 

1837 

1816 

1840 

1858 

1816 

1816 

1831 

1831 

1832 

1831 

1816 

1832 

1836 

1836 

1807 

18.35 

1816 

1810 

1831 


Howe  F^liakim  1 

Howe  Rebecca  J 

Howe  I'hebe 

Howe  Eli 

Howe  Lucy 

Hoyt  Betsey  J. 

Hovt  Saunders  ) 

Hoyt  Sally        ) 

Hoyt  Emily  A. 

Johnson  Anna  S. 

Jones  Susanna 

Kimball  Jane 

Kinsman  Hattie  F. 

Kirk  John        1 

Kirk  Dorothy  J 

Kirk  Thomas     ) 

Kirk  Elizabeth  J 

Lancaster  Alice 

Lewis  Nancy 
Livingston  Lucy 
Lowell  Sally 
Mct.'oUey  James  ) 
McColley  Sarah  ) 
Jlirick  Elizabeth 
Mirick  Lydia 
Moore  John 
Jlorrill  Susanna 
Morrill  Epliraim  jr 


/Oliver  Hoi mesN 


V  Daniel  Fuller 


(Ezra) 

(Otis) 
(Samuel  Sargent) 

(Peleg  Smith) 
(John) 

(Phineas) 


(Jacob) 
(Nathaniel) 


(William) 
(Moses) 

(Ephraim) 


Dis.  July  15, 1850 
Ex.  Jan.  23, 1830 


Dis.  Dec.  26, 1824 
Ex.  Feb.  21,  1831 


Dis.  Oct.  21, 1821 
Dis.  Oct.  18,  1841 


Dis.  Feb.  21, 1842 


Dis.  March  1, 1868 
Dis.  Feb.  17, 1840 

Dis.  April  13,  1828 


Dis. 1844 

Dis.  April  11, 1852 

Dis.  Jan.  14, 1828 
Dis.  Sept.  17,  1827 

Dis.  July  1, 1839 


Dis.  Nov.  7, 1805 
Ex.  July  16,  1832 
Dis.  May  6,  1842 
Dis.  May  6,  1842 
Ex.  June  13,  1867 


Dis.  Feb.  8, 1863 

Dis.  July  1.1839 

Dis.  July  1,1839 

Ex.  March  19,  1855 

* 

Dis.  Oct.  20,  1834 
Dis.  Nov.  10,  1833 


Dis.  March 21.  1842 
Dis.  Nov.  7,  1841 


Dis.  Sept.  14,  1817 


20 

Jieceived. 

liem^ved. 

Not. 

13, 1831 

P 

Tir.^,-:ii  T  .,„„              /Thomas  WallaceX  Ex.  Nov.  1, 1866 
MornllLucy              ( Samuel  Uohe      ) 
Morrison  Samuel     )                                                   * 
Morrison  jNlargaret )                                                    * 

Aug. 

12, 1804 

P 

Morrison  William  1                                     Dis.  June  7, 1840 
Morrison  Jane        (                                    Dis.  July  14, 1839 

Aug. 

11,1816 

P 

Morrison  Dea.  Samuel )                            Dis.  Auy .  31,  182S 

April 

25,  1824 

1' 

Morrison  IJetsey            (                            Dis.  Aug.  31,  1828 

May 

8,  1831 

P 

Morrison  Mary  Ann  (Rev.  J.  M.  C.  Bartley)          * 
3Iorrison  Susanna                                                       • 

Feb. 

12,  1833 

P 

JIorri.«on  Kliza                                                             • 

Kov. 

13. 1831 

P 

Morse  Josiah        )                                                         * 
Morse  JJetsey  B. )                                                         * 
Morse  Caroline  L.               (Josiah  jr.)                     * 

Feb. 

8,  1835 

P 

Nov. 

9,1834 

P 

Newton  Nahum  1                                                         * 

Newton  Mercy    )                                                          * 

Aug. 

12,1838 

P 

Newton  Solomon                                                         * 

Aug. 

24,  1838 

P 

Newton  Catharine                                                       * 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Page  Sarah                          (Jonathan)     Dis.  June  4,  1848 

June 

20,  1802 

P 

Parker  Alexander                                     Dis.  July  28,  1805 

Kov. 

11,  18.32 

P 

Patten  Mary  G.  (Dr.  Franklin  Wallace)  Dis.  Mar.  24,  1S67 

April 

29,  1835 

P 

I'atten  Nancy                                                               ♦ 
Parmenter  Mary                  (David)                            * 

March  15,  1847 

L 

Aug. 

8,  1802 

V 

Patterson  Susanna              (Joseph)                           * 

Feb. 

12,  1832 

P 

I'atterson  William  1                                    Dis.  Oct.  21, 1844 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Patterson  Francis   (                                      Dis.  Oct.  21,  1844 

~  May 

13.  1S33 

P 

Patterson  Hon.  J.  W.                                Dis.  Oct.  24, 1852 

JNIarch  20, 1803 

L 

Pearson  John           1                                   Dis.  Apr.  17,  1808 
I'earson  Elizabeth  {                                  Dis.  Apr.  17,  1808 

March  20,  1803 

L 

Feb. 

21,  1836 

P 

Perkins  Elizabeth                                                        * 

Nov. 

11,  ]e3S 

P 

I'erkins  Margaret                                                         * 

Nov. 

10,  1S67 

L 

Perkins  Lucy  S.                                                            * 
Peters  Sarah                        (James)                            * 

Feb. 

23, 1817 

P 

Peters  Jacob  1                                                               * 

Feb. 

23,  1817 

1' 

Pet«  rs  Anna  )                                                               * 

May 

12,  1822 

P 

Peters  Hannah                                                             * 

Nov. 

13, 1831 

P 

Peters  Eliza                            (John)                            * 

Nov. 

11, 1832 

P 

Peters  Sarah  E.        (^-JP^l^^l^pLe)  ""'''■  ^"^  '"' '''' 

Aug. 

12. 18.38 

P 

Peters  Mary  C.                                                             * 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Pillsbury  l>ea.  Oliver                                                  » 

Aug. 

11,1833 

P 

Pillsbury  I'arker                                        Ex.  Nov.  17, 1845 

Apr. 

29,  1835 

P 

Pillsbury  Oliver  jr.                                       Ex.  Apr.  18,  1853 

1     Nov . 

11, 1838 

P 

Pil  Isbury  Eliza  J .                                          Dis.  July  18.  1841 

Apr. 

29,  18.35 

P 

Pillsbury  J.  Webster                                    Ex.  Nov.  1,  1866 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Pressbury  Louisa  M.  (Wheelock  Campbell)   Dis.  Apr.  18, 

1842. 
Pressbury  Maria  E.                                     Ex.  Jan.  21,  1839 

Apr. 

29,  1835 

P 

March  25,  1810 

V 

Proctor  John  C.                                         Dis.  July  16,  1815 

!      Dec. 

30,  1810 

P 

Proctor  John  1                                                              * 

t-  Dec. 

30,  1810 

P 

Proctor  Edna  t                                                              * 

Feb. 

25,  1816 

P 

Proctor  R^v.  David  C.                              Dis.  Feb.  14, 1819 

Aug. 

10,  1834 

L 

Proctor  Abigail                                             Dis.  Apr.  16,  1837 
Plummor  John  R.     1                                Dis.  June  22,  1871 
I'lummer  Harriet  P. )                                Dis.  June  22, 1871 

Aug. 

14,  1859 

1' 

Aug. 

14,  1859 

P 

July 

29, 1810 

P 

Putney  Lvdia                       (Thomas)                         • 

May 

18,  1828 

P 

Putney  Sally  <;.               (Lot  Wiggins)    Dis.  Apr.  19,  1835 

May 

13,  1838 

P 

Putney  Mary  M.                     (Perley)        Dis.  June  21,  1840 

1     Feb. 

10,  18i37 

P 

Putney  Charles  G.                                          Dis.  Feb.  9, 1868 

Feb. 

9,  1834 

L 

Quimby  Jonathan                                      Dis.  Dec.  23, 1838 

Aug. 

11, 1811 

P 

Eamsdeli  Abigail          ( [^a^^efs  WUhligton }       * 

_ 

21 


Received. 
Nov.    13,1831 
Feb.     12,  1832 


nemoved. 
Ex.  March  38, 1833 


{Rev.  Jacob) 


P    Ray  Amos         ) 
F    Ray  Catherine) 
Kice  Ruth 
Nov.    14, 1830    P    Rice  Lucy        . 

Rice  Uea.  Daniel) 

Rice  Sarah  ) 

Rice  Moses 

Rice  Levi  ,_,.  ,    . 

Rice  Martha  _  iPj[*^;S^,       a 

Rice  Maria  W.         (Obediah  Wilson) 

Ross  Kesiah  (Timothy) 

Rogers  Artemas  ) 

Rogers  Lydia      i 

i^^o^S  fera^ir  Appleton  S-born)I>is  Oct.  17,1842 

Sanboru  Paulina      (James  feargent)      Dis.  Sept.  20, 1840 

Sanborn  Xathan  P. 

Sanborn  Geo.  G-. 

Sanborn  Henry  M.  .  „   o  v 

Sanborn  Caroline  A.  (Edward  B.  S.) 


Nov.  13, 1881 

Feb.  12, 1832 

May  13, 1838 

Aug.  21,  1843 


Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
May 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Aug 


13, 1831 

13, 1831 

13, 1831 

29,1835 

9,  1835 

8,  1842 

11,1844 

11,  1855 

8, 1858 

March  20, 1803 

Feb.     21,1836 

13, 1837 

11,  1858 

11,  1858 
8,  1830 

26. 1802 
4,  1803 
March  20,  1803 
March  20,  1803 
Feb.     12, 1832 

12,1832 

12,  1827 
8,  1869 

15,  1821 

8,  1824 

22,  1848 

22,  1848 


Aug. 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Aug. 
May 
Dec. 


Feb. 
Apr. 
May 
Apr. 
Aug. 
Oct. 
Oct. 


Dis.  Apr.  21, 1883 
Dis.  Apr.  21, 1833 


Dis.  Feb.  29, 1852 

Dis.  Feb.  24, 1846 

Dis.  May  9, 1862 


May 
July 


:May 

Nov. 

Nov. 

Apr. 

Apr. 

May 

May 

Oct. 

Aug. 

May 

Nov. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Apr. 

Aug. 

Apr. 

Nov. 


12, 1805 
5,  1807 


8, 1831 
13, 1831 
11,1832 
29,  1835 
29,  1835 
13,  1838 
13,  1838 
11,1840 
8,1858 
9, 1813 

10,  1811 
21,  1836 

4,  1803 
8,  1816 
29,  1835 

11,  1833 
29,  1835 
13, 1836 


Sargent  Lydia 
Sargent  Betsey    ) 
Sargent  Thomas  ) 
Sargent  Dea.  James  j 
Sargent  Mercy  ) 

Saunders  Betsey  15. 
Sawyer  Rev.  Moses  ) 
Sawyer  Fanny  ) 

Sawyer  Edmund     1 
Sawyer  Mehitable  ) 
Sawyer  Jacob        ) 
Sawyer  Laura  B.  ) 
Scales  Nancy  B. 
Scott  FhilindaC. 
Searle  Dea.  Stephen 
Searle  Sarah  J. 
Searle  Rev.  R.  T.  1 
Searle  Emily  A.    ) 
Smith  Ruth 
Smith  Hannah 
Smith  Abigail 
Smith  Prudence 
Smith  Susanna 
Smith  Betsey 
Smith  Thankful 
Smith  Mary  Ann 
Smith  Mary 
Smith  Peleg  W. 
Smith  Rev.  Socrates 
Smith  Elijah      ) 
Smith  Hannah  ) 
Smith  Sally 
Smith  Harriet 
Sprague  Timothy  ) 
Sprague  Azubah  ) 
Stiles  Amelia 
Stone  Mary_ 
Temple  Rlioda 


(Ebenezer) 


Dis.  Oct.  20, 1884 

Dis.  May  3,  1826 

Dis.  Sept.  12,  1831 

Dis.  Oct.  16,  1814 

* 

Dis.  Nov.  20, 1843 
Dis.  Nov.  20,  1843 

(Rev.  Jacob)  *    

(S.(i.Blanchard)Dy..May^7,1869 


(Isaac  Adams) 

(Ezekiel) 
(Samuel) 
(Ezekiel  jr.) 
(Bezaleel) 
(Moses) 


(Bimsley) 


(Bezaleel) 
(Micah  Howe) 


Dis.  Oct.  28,  1827 
Dis.  Oct.  21, 1866 
Dis.  Oct.  21,1866 


Dis.  July  29, 1810 


Ex.  April  16,  1808 
Dis.  Nov.  11.1842 
Ex.  June  13,  1867 
Ex.  June  13,  1867 
* 

Dis.  May  15, 1862 


(Madison  Colby)    Dis.  July  12, 1840 
(Thomas)  *    ,„,„ 

Train  Rebecca  H.    (Jeremiah  Dutton)  ^J?'s.  Aug.  3,  1840 
Tucker  Hannah  ( Kzra)  ^^\^^^\  f,'  W. 

Tucker  Clarissa  P.  (David)  Dis.  March  24, 186< 

Tucker  Sophronia  (Samuel  Folsom)      Dis.  Sept.  30, 1866 
Wadsworth  Samuel  Lx.  April  24,  18-6 


22 

Jieceived. 

Jiemoved. 

Nov. 

8, 1816 

P 

Wadsworth  Joanna  ( 

Bela  Butler  \ 
Dan  Wilson  y 

* 

Auff. 

8,1824 

P 

Wadsworth  Titus  V.  1 
Wadsworth  Susan      ) 

Ex.  Sept.  19, 1853 

Apr. 

12, 1827 

P 

Dis.  July  6, 1855 

May 

16,1830 

P 

Wadsworth  Joseph 

* 

Nov. 

13, 1831 

P 

Wadsworth  Dorothy  (Benoni  Fuller) 

Dis.  Feb.  25, 1849 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Wadsworth  Betsey  S. 

( Warren) 

Ex.  Nov.  1, 1866 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Wadsworth  Olive 

(Joseph) 

* 

Nov. 

12,  1813 

P 

Wadsworth  Burton  ) 
Wadsworth  Sophia  ) 

Ex.  April  19, 1858 

Nov. 

12, 1843 

P 

* 

Nov. 

12,  1843 

P 

Wadsworth  Carlton 

Ex.  April  19,  1858 

P 

Ward  Sarah 

(Josiah) 

* 

May 

12,  1805 

P 

Ward  Joslah  jr.  ) 
Ward  Elizabeth  } 

Dis.  July  22, 1810 

May 

12, 1805 

P 

Dis.  July  22, 1810 

Dec. 

80, 1810 

P 

Wallace  Betsey         {f^^^^r^l^ 

)  Dis.  Oct.  21, 1821 

May 

13,1838 

P 

Wallace  Jane 

(Robert  M.) 

* 

Apr. 

29,1836 

P 

Watkins  Helena  C. 

(Buggies  S.) 

Dis.  July  20, 1846 

Whitcomb  Hannah 

(Charles) 

# 

Whitcomb  Jacob  1 
Whitcomb  Olive  ) 

« 

« 

Nov. 

13, 1831 

P 

Whitcomb  Polly 

(John) 

• 

Nov. 

13, 1831 

I' 

Whitcomb  Laura 

* 

Nov. 

13, 1831 

P 

Whitcomb  Sally  M. 

(Enoch  Coffin) 

Dis.  Nov.  2, 1834 

Nov. 

11,1832 

P 

Whitcomb  Eunice 
Whitney  Joshua  1 
Whitney  Betsey  ) 

(Silas) 

* 
Ex.  Dec.  3,  1832 
Ex.  Dec.  3, 1832 

May 

12, 1805 

P 

Whitney  Hannah 

(Abel  Connor) 

* 

Nov. 

3,  1816 

P 

Whitney  Stephen 

Dis.  April  22, 1827 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Whitney  Asa 

* 

Nov. 

13, 1831 

P 

Whitney  Lois  C.        (Zebulon  Foster  j 

r.)                  * 

Feb. 

12, 1832 

P 

Whitney  Alice  B. 

# 

May 

13,  1832 

P 

Whitney  Martha 

(Asa) 

* 

Nov. 

10,  18.33 

L 

Whitney  Lois 

* 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Wilkins  James 

* 

Aug. 

8,  1858 

P 

Wilkins  B.Jane 

* 

Aug. 

8,  1858 

P 

Wilkins  Mary  C. 

* 

Feb. 

22, 1816 

I. 

Wilson  Dea.  William 

* 

April 

29,1835 

P 

Wilson  Polly  E. 

(Samuel) 

» 

Aug. 

8,  1802 

P 

Withington  liachel 

* 

May 

11,  1806 

P 

Withington  Francis 

* 

Aug. 

12,  18.32 

P 

Withington  Francis  M.  | 

* 

Nov. 

14,  1802 

P 

Withington  Hannah 

/ 

* 

Feb. 

10,  18C5 

P 

Withington  ]Mary 

(Elias) 

# 

May 

14,  1S20 

P 

Withington  Cynthia 

* 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Withington  Laura    (David  Clough  jr 

)  Dis.  Sept.  17  1832 

May 

13,  1832 

P 

Withington  Appbia 
Wood  Jonathan  ) 
Wood  Sarah        ) 

( Emerson) 

Ex.  June  13,  1867 
Ex.  Dec.  3,  1832 

* 

Aug. 

14, 1803 

L 

Wood  Elizabeth 

(Joseph) 

* 

Aug. 

12,  1804 

P 

Wood  Betsey 

* 

Aug. 

12, 1821 

P 

Wood  Betsey 

(James  B.) 

* 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Wood  Levi 

Ex.  Jan.  23, 18.30 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Wood  Sally 

f.Joel) 

Dis.  Nov.  11, 1830 

Aug. 

8,  1824 

P 

Wood  Lucy 

(Elijah  Smith) 

* 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Wood  Jabez 

Ex.  June  13, 1807 

Nov. 

13,  1831 

P 

Wood  Lucy 

(Eli) 

* 

April 

29,  1835 

P 

Wood  Harriet 

* 

Aug. 

9,  1835 

P 

Wood  Lucy 

(Eli) 

* 

May 

12,  1839 

L 

Woods  Deborah 

(Warren) 

Dis.  Sept.  7, 1851 

March  22,  1812 

L, 

Woodbury  Dea.  William  C.  | 

Ex.  Feb.  9,  1826 

July 

24,  1814 

I. 

Woodbury  Martha 

/ 

Dis.  Sept.  30, 1827 

Nov. 

8, 1818 

P 

Woodbury  Eebecca 

Dis.  Sept.  30, 1827 

MEMBERS. 


1819 
1825 
1828 


1831 


1832 


1833 


1834 


1835 


L    Seus  Sanborn 
P    Nathan  Carter 
P    Jacob  Gordon 
P    Mary  P.  Darling 
L    Kunice  Ward 
P    Sophronia  Bowman 
P    Margery  Carter 
P    Dea.  Horace  Childs 
P    Susan  C.  Cogswell 
P    Hannah  Hathorn 

P    Lucy  Morrill 

P    Irene  Patten 

P    John  Peters 

P    Avallne  Kice 

P    Almary  Wadsworth 

P    John  Whitcomb 

p    Lydia  Whitcomb 

I,    Sarah  Wilkins 

P    Kev.  William  Wood 

P    Martha  Wood 

P    Zilplia  liariies 

p    Warren  S.  Childs 

p    Carlos  Childs 

p    Barak  Colby 

P    Dea.  Worcester  Hathorn 

P  Lucinda  G.  Proctor 

P  Rebecca  Ramsdell 

L  Mary  L.  N.  Connor 

P  Zebulon  Foster,  jr. 

p  Sally  Goss 

p  Gilbert  Pillsbury 

P  Grizzy  D.  Kice 

P  Lucinda  King 

p  Polly  C.  Barnes 

L  Washington  Berry ) 

L  Maria  Berry  ) 

p  Anna  Pillsbury 

P  Daniel  CogsvvtU 

P  A.  Whitney  Connor 

p  Elvira  Connor 

P  Mary  J.  Darling 

P  Mary  Darling 
P    Henrietta  M.  Gould 

P  Prudence  H.  Mirick 

P  Abigail  Newton 


(Dr.  Nathan) 


(Enoch) 
(Windsor) 
(David  Davis) 
(Nathan) 

(Jonathati)' 
(John,  jr.) 
(Ephraim,  jr.) 


(J.  Heath  Colby) 
(Barak  Colby) 


(James) 

(Harris  Campbell) 


/John  Proctor         \ 
V  Joseph  Thompson/ 

(Abel) 

(Luther) 

(Willard) 

(Benjamin) 

(Harry) 

(Dea.  Oliver) 

(J.G.M.  Foss) 
(J .  Kimball  Connor) 
(Jonas  Wallace) 
(Charles  French) 


24 

1835 

P 

Harriet  N.  Plllsbury 

(Nahum  Newton) 

" 

1* 

Susan  E.  Smith 

(Dr.  David  O.  Collins) 

" 

r 

Sarah  Jane  Tennant 

(Peter  N.  Peterson) 

" 

p 

Jane  W.  VVilcon 

(Worcester  Goss) 

1836 

L 

Kiioch  L.  Childs 

" 

L 

Maria  Connor 

(William) 

1838 

P 

Harry  Barnes 
Matifda  R.  8.  Chllds 

" 

P 

(Dea.  Horace) 

" 

P 

J.  Kimball  Connor 

" 

P 

Esther  E.  Sargent 

(William) 

1840 

L 

Sarah  Childs 

(Warren  S.) 

" 

L 

Mary  L.  Childs 

(Asa  Whitney) 

1843 

P 

Worcester  Carter 

" 

P 

A.  U.  L.  F.  Connor 

•' 

L 

Susan  Moore 

/Thomas  Wallace \ 
V.  William  Moore    ) 

" 

P 

Kial  Mirick 

<> 

P 

Almira  Wliitcomb 

(Dexter) 

>' 

P 

Elizabeth  S.  Wliitcomb 

1844 

P 

Oliver  C.  Fisher 

P 

Laura  W.  Gordon 

(Benjamin  Clark) 

" 

L 

Sarah  A.  Moriill 

(Ephraim  3d) 

" 

h 

Julia  Wood 

(Dexter) 

">    11 

P 

Edna  Dean  Proctor 

1846 

I. 

Elizabeth  Mirick 

1847 

L 

Harriet  N.  Connor 

(A.Whitney) 

1349 

P 

Susan  Mirick 

(Rial) 

11 

P 

Thomas  h.  Sanborn 

""  1851 

L 

Rev.  J.  M.  R.  Eaton  1 
Harriet  D.  Eaton       j 

L 

^  1853 

P 

Eliza  M.  Peters 

(Levi  Newton) 

" 

P 

Livonia  Smith 

(George  Woods) 

1854 

L 

Eliza  A.  Foster 

(Zebulbn  jr.) 

1856 

P 

Fidelia  H.  Carter 

(Worcester) 

" 

P 

Sarah  M.  Cogswell 

(Josiah  Morse  jr.) 

" 

P 

Lizzie  B.  Wallace 

<< 

P 

Robert  C.  Hale  1 
Abigail  E.  Hale ) 

P 

1856 

L 

Mary  S-  Peters 

(John) 

<• 

L, 

S.  Worcester  Morrison  ) 
Emily  V.  Morrison        ] 

" 

L 

1857 

P 

Itebecca  H.  Cogswell 

(Daniel) 

" 

P 

Susan  C.  Eastman 

" 

L 

Joseph  Matthews 

1858 

P 

Helen  M.  Chase 

(Daniel  Thompson) 

" 

P 

Lucy  M.  Cogswell 

(Gawn  Wilkins) 

" 

P 

Isabella  Colton 

(Martin  Greene) 

" 

P 

Helen  C.  Goss 

" 

P 

i;ila  F.  Gould 

(Amos  D.) 

" 

P 

S.  Frances  Hathorn 

" 

P 

Lois  F.  Mirick 

(W.  W.  Gutterson) 

" 

P 

Nahum  Newton 

'< 

P 

Henrietta  Wilkins 

(J.  S.  Taylor) 

" 

P 

Ellen  F.  Wood 

(Willis  Rice) 

1859 

P 

Mary  V^.  Campbell 

1860 

L 

Mary  Ann  Flanders 

(Gould) 

1861 

L 

E.  Maria  Cogswell 

(Washington) 

" 

L 

Abigail  Colby 

(Dea.  Nehemiah) 

" 

L 

Sarah  M.  Colby 

(Dr.  P.  H.  Wheeler) 

" 

L 

Lucy  S.  Connor 

(A.  D.  La  Fayette) 

" 

L 

Harriet  A.  Scribner 

(Gilman) 

1862 

P 

Letitia  Colby 

•_ 

L 

Orpah  L.  C.  Eastman 

(George) 

25 


1862 


1864 


1865 


1869 
1870 


1870 


1871 
1872 


Sarah  A.  French 
S.  Anna  Hall 
Martha  D.  Gordon 
Malvina  M.  Matthews 
Lucy  M.  Campbell 
Richard  L.  Childs 
Mary  A.  Chllds 
Frances  J.  Goss 
Ephraim  P.  Goss 
Lizzie  M.  Goss 
Thomas  L.  Brown 
Franklin  E.  Colby 
S.  Frances  Gutterson 
Mary  A.  Taylor 
Sopliia  Barnes 
Mary  Felch 
Sarah  A.  D.  Hussey 
Daniel  Putney 
Jenny  Wood 
Edna  F.  Connor 
Helen  J.  Eastman 
Ellen  Colby 
Levi  S.  Connor 
Horace  Gibson     ) 
Mary  W.  Gibsonj 
Elizabeth  H.  Gove 
John  Gutterson 
Louisa  B.  Howe 
Sarah  W.  Howe 
Kev.  S.  S.  Morrill  i 
Ellen  B.  Morrill     i 
Susan   L.  Kice, 
Hannah  B.  Whitney, 
Annette  Jones, 
Mary  F.  Cogswell, 
Dr.  L.  W.  Peabody 
Louisa  L.  K.  Peabody 
Sarah  M.  Peabody 
Maria  A.  Peabody 
Elisha  Rice     1 
Ann  E.  Rice  ( 
Hannah  E.  Smith 
Susan  E.  Towle 


P    Martha  K.  Ordway 


(Francis) 
(Norman) 


(Fitz  Edward  Cogswell) 

(John) 

(Almon  Stiles) 

(Warren) 

(Paul) 

(Elisha) 
(Franklin  E.) 

(James) 
(Rufus) 

(Frederick) 
(George) 


(Gardiner  S.) 
(Joshua) 


SUMMARY. 


Number  of  Pastors, 7 

Number  of  Deacons 11 

Number  of  original  Members, 9 

Whole  number  op  Members, 541 

Number  removed  by  Dismission, 145 

Number  removed  by  Excommunication,     ....  38 

Number  removed  by  Death, 207 

Present  Membership, 151 


^^WiWlfBli'ffiS^SiW'ff^ 


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[39H3  Proceedings  of 
the  one  hundred 


and  fifteenth  anniver- 
jsary  of  the  Congrega- 
:  tional  Chur<^h 


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